Nigeria Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
Nigeria's services employment was 49.46% in 2025, ranked 52nd globally. This represents a 0.8% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Nigeria's services employment stood at 49.46% in 2025, a rise of +0.40% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 50.14% by 2026. Nigeria ranked 52nd globally.
Nigeria’s share of its labour force employed in services rose from 36.08 percent in 1991 to a record 49.46 percent in 2025, placing the country 52nd globally and matching the all‑time peak in the same year. The 13.38‑point increase over 35 years reflects a gradual structural shift away from agriculture and mining toward retail, telecommunications and financial activities, a pattern also observed in peer economies such as Thailand, which recorded 49.21 percent in the same period. Compared with Georgia’s 49.48 percent and Turkmenistan’s 49.50 percent, Nigeria’s service‑employment share is marginally lower but converging toward the regional average for emerging markets. The upward trajectory suggests that continued investment in digital infrastructure and vocational training could sustain the expansion of the services sector, potentially lifting Nigeria’s rank into the top‑fifty by the end of the decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 51.29% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 50.72% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 50.14% | - | - |
| 2025 | 49.46% | +0.40% | #52 |
| 2024 | 49.06% | +0.59% | #53 |
| 2023 | 48.47% | +0.54% | #54 |
| 2022 | 47.93% | +0.79% | #54 |
| 2021 | 47.14% | +0.44% | #53 |
| 2020 | 46.70% | −0.99% | #53 |
| 2019 | 47.69% | +0.50% | #56 |
| 2018 | 47.19% | +0.38% | #55 |
| 2017 | 46.81% | +0.37% | #55 |
| 2016 | 46.45% | +0.46% | #56 |
| 2015 | 45.99% | +0.63% | #59 |
| 2014 | 45.36% | +0.76% | #56 |
| 2013 | 44.60% | +0.33% | #57 |
| 2012 | 44.27% | +0.28% | #56 |
| 2011 | 43.99% | +0.66% | #57 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nigeria matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw services employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nigeria's services employment was 49.46% in 2025. Ranked 52nd globally. This represents a 0.8% increase from the previous year.
Nigeria's services employment peaked at 49.46% in 2025.
The lowest services employment in Nigeria was 36.08% in 1991.
Nigeria ranks 52nd globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nigeria's services employment is projected to reach 50.14% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of Nigeria in 2025 was 49.46%. This ranks 52nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nigeria_services-employment,
title = {Nigeria Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nigeria/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}