Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — Sao Tome and Principe

Unemployment rate in Sao Tome and Principe in 2025 — 9.13%. Ranked 143 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 5.36 pp.

2025 9.13% +0.07 pp vs 2024
World rank 143of 182
Period maximum 17.63%2002
Period minimum 8.71%2018

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — Sao Tome and Principe, 1991–20257.51012.51517.52019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 14.49%1992: 14.65%1993: 14.46%1994: 14.41%1995: 14.34%1996: 14.33%1997: 14.41%1998: 14.4%1999: 14.35%2000: 14.4%2001: 15.73%2002: 17.63%2003: 16.36%2004: 16.12%2005: 16.47%2006: 16.65%2007: 16.02%2008: 15.42%2009: 15.14%2010: 14.63%2011: 14.23%2012: 13.59%2013: 12.48%2014: 11.43%2015: 10.59%2016: 9.68%2017: 8.81%2018: 8.71%2019: 8.84%2020: 9.68%2021: 9.56%2022: 8.96%2023: 9.03%2024: 9.06%2025: 9.13%
Change over the period: −5.36 pp Annual average: -0.16 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe 9.13%
World 4.79%
Middle Africa computed 6.76%
Unemployment rate — Sao Tome and Principe, by year Sao Tome and Principe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 9.13 +0.07 pp
2024 9.06 +0.03 pp
2023 9.03 +0.07 pp
2022 8.96 −0.6 pp
2021 9.56 −0.12 pp
2020 9.68 +0.84 pp
2019 8.84 +0.12 pp
2018 8.71 −0.1 pp
2017 8.81 −0.88 pp
2016 9.68 −0.91 pp
2015 10.59 −0.84 pp
2014 11.43 −1.05 pp
2013 12.48 −1.11 pp
2012 13.59 −0.64 pp
2011 14.23 −0.4 pp
2010 14.63 −0.51 pp
2009 15.14 −0.29 pp
2008 15.42 −0.6 pp
2007 16.02 −0.63 pp
2006 16.65 +0.18 pp
2005 16.47 +0.35 pp
2004 16.12 −0.24 pp
2003 16.36 −1.27 pp
2002 17.63 +1.9 pp
2001 15.73 +1.33 pp
2000 14.4 +0.05 pp
1999 14.35 −0.05 pp
1998 14.4 −0.02 pp
1997 14.41 +0.08 pp
1996 14.33 −0.01 pp
1995 14.34 −0.07 pp
1994 14.41 −0.05 pp
1993 14.46 −0.19 pp
1992 14.65 +0.16 pp
1991 14.49

About the indicator

The share of the labor force that is unemployed, on the ILO definition: a person counts as unemployed if they held no job in the reference period, actively looked for one and were available to start work. People who are not looking for work are not part of the labor force, so in countries with mass withdrawal from the labor force low unemployment does not mean high employment; the employment ratio and labor force participation fill in the rest of the picture.

Important: The data are ILO modeled estimates harmonized to a common definition; they can differ from the national figures of employment services.

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