Employment in industry — all countries

Employment in industry — Western Africa

Employment in industry in Western Africa in 2025 — 16%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 5.5 pp.

2025 16% +0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 16%2025
Period minimum 10.3%1995

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Employment in industry — Western Africa, 1991–2025101214161819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 10.5%1992: 10.5%1993: 10.4%1994: 10.3%1995: 10.3%1996: 10.3%1997: 10.4%1998: 10.4%1999: 10.4%2000: 10.4%2001: 10.5%2002: 10.7%2003: 10.8%2004: 11%2005: 11.1%2006: 11.2%2007: 11.3%2008: 11.4%2009: 11.6%2010: 11.9%2011: 12.1%2012: 12.7%2013: 13.3%2014: 13.4%2015: 13.2%2016: 12.9%2017: 13.2%2018: 13.3%2019: 13.4%2020: 14.1%2021: 14.7%2022: 15.8%2023: 15.8%2024: 15.8%2025: 16%
Change over the period: +5.5 pp Annual average: 0.16 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Western Africa

Western Africa 16%
World 23.7%
Employment in industry — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 16 +0.2 pp
2024 15.8 +0 pp
2023 15.8 +0 pp
2022 15.8 +1 pp
2021 14.7 +0.6 pp
2020 14.1 +0.7 pp
2019 13.4 +0.2 pp
2018 13.3 +0.1 pp
2017 13.2 +0.2 pp
2016 12.9 −0.3 pp
2015 13.2 −0.1 pp
2014 13.4 +0.1 pp
2013 13.3 +0.6 pp
2012 12.7 +0.5 pp
2011 12.1 +0.3 pp
2010 11.9 +0.3 pp
2009 11.6 +0.2 pp
2008 11.4 +0.1 pp
2007 11.3 +0.1 pp
2006 11.2 +0.1 pp
2005 11.1 +0.1 pp
2004 11 +0.2 pp
2003 10.8 +0.1 pp
2002 10.7 +0.2 pp
2001 10.5 +0 pp
2000 10.4 +0.1 pp
1999 10.4 −0 pp
1998 10.4 +0 pp
1997 10.4 +0 pp
1996 10.3 +0.1 pp
1995 10.3 −0 pp
1994 10.3 −0.1 pp
1993 10.4 −0.1 pp
1992 10.5 +0 pp
1991 10.5 —

About the indicator

The share of total employment in industry (mining, manufacturing, electricity, water supply) and in construction. The peak is in countries in the middle of the industrial transition; in postindustrial economies the share declines even as industrial output grows, because of automation.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.