Photo: Shubert Ciencia derivative work: JamesA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Benin: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Benin is placed 70th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 75.14 (2025); Labour Income Share 39.95 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
70th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Benin on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
75.14
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Benin: 75.14. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Western Africa
- 79.99 Nigeria
- Land neighbours
- Burkina Faso 67.57 · Niger 79.43 · Nigeria 79.99 · Togo 56.69
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
1.589
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Benin: 1.589. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Western Africa
- 0.394 Niger
- Land neighbours
- Burkina Faso 3.477 · Niger 0.394 · Nigeria 3.064 · Togo 1.995
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
78.53
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Benin: 78.53. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Western Africa
- 34.26 Cabo Verde
- Land neighbours
- Burkina Faso 80.56 · Niger 83.73 · Nigeria 66.48 · Togo 75.03
02Over time
Which way Benin is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
BeninWorld median
Benin rose from 71.21 in 2000 to 75.14 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Benin World median 2025 75.143 57.720 2024 75.022 57.694 2023 75.023 58.158 2022 74.995 57.688 2021 74.681 56.066 2020 73.645 55.691 2019 74.183 57.871 2018 73.642 56.911 2017 73.058 56.738 2016 72.563 56.845 2015 72.132 56.788 2014 71.687 56.774 2013 71.109 56.229 2012 70.518 56.289 2011 69.977 56.297 2010 71.118 56.212 2009 71.169 56.255 2008 71.194 57.308 2007 71.174 56.933 2006 71.170 56.685 2005 71.176 56.129 2004 71.212 55.465 2003 71.228 55.630 2002 71.255 55.843 2001 71.242 56.018 2000 71.212 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
BeninWorld median
Benin fell from 42.13 in 2004 to 39.95 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Benin World median 2025 39.95 46.230 2024 39.86 46.060 2023 40.18 45.900 2022 40.22 45.615 2021 40.00 45.433 2020 40.19 47.267 2019 40.85 46.277 2018 41.93 46.187 2017 41.97 46.467 2016 42.32 46.798 2015 42.47 46.876 2014 41.12 47.281 2013 40.69 46.887 2012 41.04 46.231 2011 41.26 45.679 2010 41.47 46.024 2009 41.43 47.071 2008 40.81 45.312 2007 40.55 45.246 2006 41.06 45.670 2005 41.62 46.265 2004 42.13 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
BeninWorld median
Benin rose from 0.864 in 2000 to 1.589 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Benin World median 2025 1.589 5.08 2024 1.637 5.15 2023 1.641 5.21 2022 1.685 5.34 2021 1.833 6.04 2020 1.518 6.38 2019 1.214 5.36 2018 1.426 5.35 2017 1.691 5.59 2016 1.834 5.90 2015 1.886 6.41 2014 1.952 6.58 2013 2.198 6.71 2012 2.458 6.79 2011 2.647 6.90 2010 1.040 7.04 2009 0.950 6.67 2008 0.895 5.79 2007 0.902 6.00 2006 0.888 6.50 2005 0.859 7.09 2004 0.790 6.80 2003 0.747 6.95 2002 0.690 6.91 2001 0.766 6.96 2000 0.864 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
BeninWorld median
Benin fell from 85.1 in 2000 to 78.53 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Benin World median 2025 78.5 28.67 2024 78.9 29.04 2023 79.2 29.33 2022 79.5 29.67 2021 80.8 30.01 2020 82.2 30.54 2019 81.9 29.98 2018 82.3 30.15 2017 82.6 29.93 2016 82.8 29.91 2015 83.1 30.26 2014 83.2 30.47 2013 83.4 31.14 2012 83.6 31.00 2011 83.8 31.41 2010 83.9 32.37 2009 84.0 32.59 2008 84.1 31.76 2007 84.2 33.47 2006 84.3 34.27 2005 84.4 34.66 2004 84.5 35.51 2003 84.6 35.90 2002 84.8 35.96 2001 84.9 35.27 2000 85.1 35.67
03In context
Benin beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Benin and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nigeria | 16th | 79.99 | 75.13 | 3.064 | 66.48 |
| Benin | 70th | 75.14 | 39.95 | 1.589 | 78.53 |
 Burkina Faso | =95th | 67.57 | 43.47 | 3.477 | 80.56 |
 Niger | =95th | 79.43 | 27.76 | 0.394 | 83.73 |
 Togo | =112th | 56.69 | 42.15 | 1.995 | 75.03 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Benin in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Benin is ahead of the world, and behind
23 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median5
Statistics on which Benin does better than the middle country measured.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3675.1653.36▲ Improved since 2015
Benin: 75.16 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 10th of 182 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.832.88712.83No real change since 2015
Benin: 2.887 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 172nd of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6676.3661.66▲ Improved since 2015
Benin: 76.36 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 16th of 182 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.610.711.61▼ Worsened since 2015
Benin: 0.71 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1624.3919.16No earlier reading
Benin: 24.39 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 45th of 179 · derived.
Behind the world median8
Statistics on which Benin does worse than the middle country measured.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88518.284.885▲ Improved since 2015
Benin: 18.28 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23010,30725,230No real change since 2010
Benin: 10,307 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 111th of 151 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0719.4232.07No earlier reading
Benin: 19.42 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7421,9946,742No real change since 2015
Benin: 1,994 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 118th of 151 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8158.2441.81No earlier reading
Benin: 58.24 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 37th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.97.245.9No earlier reading
Benin: 7.2 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,3849,32647,384▲ Improved since 2015
Benin: 9,326 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 149th of 168 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.164.2222.16No real change since 2015
Benin: 4.22 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 163rd of 182 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare3
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 333▼ Worsened since 2015
Benin: 3 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989898▼ Worsened since 2015
Benin: 98 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Benin: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8479.8331.84No real change since 2015
Benin: 79.83 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 16th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3840.2414.38No real change since 2015
Benin: 40.24 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 39th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8942.0638.89Moved since 2015
Benin: 42.06 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 51st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8818.3218.88Moved since 2015
Benin: 18.32 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 100th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95260.94657.95No real change since 2014
Benin: 260.94 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5141.4459.51Moved since 2015
Benin: 41.44 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 149th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.012.6415.01No earlier reading
Benin: 2.64 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 130th of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Benin
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2022), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2022), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2022), Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2011), Share of Temporary Employees (last 2011), Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2022). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Benin’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Benin’s 3rd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability20th of 1864/4 keys
- Gender & Equality70th of 1834/4 keys
- Work & Labour70th of 1824/4 keys
- Peace & Security69th of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions89th of 1944/4 keys
- Digital & Technology96th of 1984/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties111th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 126th of 1934/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade123rd of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 129th of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality112th of 1593/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation124th of 1764/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge162nd of 1984/4 keys
- Energy147th of 1653/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing183rd of 2004/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital186th of 1963/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Benin can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Nigeria16th4/4 keysThis page
Benin70th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Benin and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Benin on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Benin rank on work & labour?
Benin is placed 70th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Benin?
75.14 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Benin?
39.95 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Benin compare with Nigeria on work & labour?
Nigeria is placed 16th of 182, and Benin 70th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Nigeria 79.99, Benin 75.14; Labour Income Share: Nigeria 75.13, Benin 39.95; Unemployment Rate: Nigeria 3.064, Benin 1.589; Vulnerable Employment: Nigeria 66.48, Benin 78.53.
How have Benin’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 71.21 in 2000 to 75.14 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 42.13 in 2004 to 39.95 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 0.864 in 2000 to 1.589 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 85.1 in 2000 to 78.53 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Benin?
No current reading is published for Benin on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 23 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Benin’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Benin (banner) — Shubert Ciencia derivative work: JamesA, CC BY 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Benin: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/benin/work