Burkina Faso Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
Burkina Faso's services employment was 31.56% in 2025, ranked 15th globally. This represents a 1.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Burkina Faso's services employment stood at 31.56% in 2025, a rise of +0.40% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 31.86% by 2026. Burkina Faso ranked 15th globally.
Burkina Faso’s share of the labour force employed in services rose from 11.89 percent in 1991 to a record 31.56 percent in 2025, placing the country 15th worldwide and narrowly below Eritrea’s 31.78 percent and India’s 32.56 percent. The early 1990s marked a deep trough, with services employment falling to 11.81 percent in 1992, after which gradual diversification and modest urbanisation drove a steady climb over the 35‑year series. The upward trajectory accelerated after the mid‑2000s as the informal sector expanded and public‑private partnerships introduced new service‑oriented projects, pushing the indicator to its all‑time peak in 2025. Although the growth rate has slowed compared with the rapid gains of the 1990s‑2000s, the sector’s contribution remains robust, reflecting broader structural shifts toward a service‑centric economy. Continued investment in digital infrastructure and vocational training could sustain the rise in services employment, while any reversal of macro‑economic stability might dampen the forward momentum.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 32.57% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 32.21% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 31.86% | - | - |
| 2025 | 31.56% | +0.40% | #15 |
| 2024 | 31.16% | +0.41% | #15 |
| 2023 | 30.74% | +0.34% | #15 |
| 2022 | 30.40% | +0.23% | #16 |
| 2021 | 30.17% | −0.22% | #17 |
| 2020 | 30.39% | −1.04% | #15 |
| 2019 | 31.43% | +0.80% | #15 |
| 2018 | 30.63% | +0.95% | #17 |
| 2017 | 29.68% | +0.94% | #17 |
| 2016 | 28.74% | +0.86% | #15 |
| 2015 | 27.89% | +0.63% | #14 |
| 2014 | 27.25% | +0.63% | #14 |
| 2013 | 26.62% | +0.87% | #14 |
| 2012 | 25.75% | +0.82% | #12 |
| 2011 | 24.93% | +0.80% | #12 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Burkina Faso matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw services employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Burkina Faso's services employment was 31.56% in 2025. Ranked 15th globally. This represents a 1.3% increase from the previous year.
Burkina Faso's services employment peaked at 31.56% in 2025.
The lowest services employment in Burkina Faso was 11.81% in 1992.
Burkina Faso ranks 15th globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Burkina Faso's services employment is projected to reach 31.86% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of Burkina Faso in 2025 was 31.56%. This ranks 15th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_burkina-faso_services-employment,
title = {Burkina Faso Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/burkina-faso/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}