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Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — South Sudan

Unemployment rate in South Sudan in 2023 — 12.37%. Ranked 162 in the world out of 184. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.04 pp.

2023 12.37% −0.1 pp vs 2022
World rank 162of 184
Period maximum 14.25%2020
Period minimum 12.07%1997

Trend over time

1991–2023 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — South Sudan, 1991–2023121314151991199519992003200720112015201920231991: 12.33%1992: 12.37%1993: 12.23%1994: 12.33%1995: 12.33%1996: 12.31%1997: 12.07%1998: 12.1%1999: 12.14%2000: 12.31%2001: 12.28%2002: 12.24%2003: 12.23%2004: 12.26%2005: 12.27%2006: 12.27%2007: 12.27%2008: 12.3%2009: 12.44%2010: 12.47%2011: 12.59%2012: 12.8%2013: 12.67%2014: 12.56%2015: 12.46%2016: 12.85%2017: 12.98%2018: 12.85%2019: 12.66%2020: 14.25%2021: 13.95%2022: 12.48%2023: 12.37%
Change over the period: +0.04 pp Annual average: 0 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Sudan

South Sudan 12.37%
World 4.85%
Sub-Saharan Africa 5.76%
Eastern Africa computed 4.51%
Low-income countries computed 5.22%
Unemployment rate — South Sudan, by year South Sudan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 12.37 −0.1 pp
2022 12.48 −1.48 pp
2021 13.95 −0.3 pp
2020 14.25 +1.59 pp
2019 12.66 −0.2 pp
2018 12.85 −0.13 pp
2017 12.98 +0.13 pp
2016 12.85 +0.39 pp
2015 12.46 −0.1 pp
2014 12.56 −0.1 pp
2013 12.67 −0.14 pp
2012 12.8 +0.22 pp
2011 12.59 +0.11 pp
2010 12.47 +0.04 pp
2009 12.44 +0.14 pp
2008 12.3 +0.03 pp
2007 12.27 −0 pp
2006 12.27 +0 pp
2005 12.27 +0.01 pp
2004 12.26 +0.02 pp
2003 12.23 −0 pp
2002 12.24 −0.04 pp
2001 12.28 −0.03 pp
2000 12.31 +0.17 pp
1999 12.14 +0.04 pp
1998 12.1 +0.03 pp
1997 12.07 −0.25 pp
1996 12.31 −0.02 pp
1995 12.33 +0.01 pp
1994 12.33 +0.09 pp
1993 12.23 −0.14 pp
1992 12.37 +0.04 pp
1991 12.33 —

Eastern Africa, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

BI Burundi 0.91 TZ Tanzania 1.57 UG Uganda 2.75 MG Madagascar 3.04 ET Ethiopia 3.38 KM Comoros 3.83 MW Malawi 5.01 KE Kenya 5.41 MU Mauritius 5.57 ZM Zambia 5.86 ER Eritrea 5.91 MZ Mozambique 6.66 ZW Zimbabwe 9.35 RW Rwanda 12.35 SS South Sudan 12.37 SO Somalia 18.96 DJ Djibouti 26.07
Full table for all countries

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.

Other indicators for South Sudan

Labor Youth unemployment

The unemployment rate at ages 15–24 — almost always two to three times the overall rate.

South Sudan by year Labor Female unemployment

The unemployment rate of the female part of the labor force.

South Sudan by year Labor Male unemployment

The share of men in the labor force who have no job and are looking for one.

South Sudan by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

The share of the population aged 15 and over that actually works.

South Sudan by year
All indicators for South Sudan