Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Sub-Saharan Africa

Youth unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025 — 10.08%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 2.11 pp.

2025 10.08% −0.01 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 12.49%2020
Period minimum 10.08%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force aged 15–24

Youth unemployment — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1991–20251011121319911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 12.19%1992: 12.28%1993: 12.3%1994: 12.17%1995: 11.98%1996: 11.89%1997: 11.88%1998: 11.92%1999: 12.12%2000: 12.14%2001: 12.09%2002: 11.99%2003: 11.97%2004: 11.78%2005: 11.68%2006: 11.54%2007: 11.47%2008: 11.44%2009: 11.67%2010: 12.2%2011: 12.19%2012: 11.94%2013: 11.45%2014: 11.33%2015: 11.34%2016: 11.33%2017: 11.33%2018: 11.32%2019: 11.51%2020: 12.49%2021: 12.01%2022: 10.71%2023: 10.24%2024: 10.09%2025: 10.08%
Change over the period: −2.11 pp Annual average: -0.06 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 10.08%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 10.08 −0.01 pp
2024 10.09 −0.16 pp
2023 10.24 −0.47 pp
2022 10.71 −1.3 pp
2021 12.01 −0.48 pp
2020 12.49 +0.97 pp
2019 11.51 +0.2 pp
2018 11.32 −0.01 pp
2017 11.33 −0.01 pp
2016 11.33 −0 pp
2015 11.34 +0 pp
2014 11.33 −0.12 pp
2013 11.45 −0.49 pp
2012 11.94 −0.25 pp
2011 12.19 −0.02 pp
2010 12.2 +0.54 pp
2009 11.67 +0.22 pp
2008 11.44 −0.03 pp
2007 11.47 −0.07 pp
2006 11.54 −0.14 pp
2005 11.68 −0.1 pp
2004 11.78 −0.19 pp
2003 11.97 −0.03 pp
2002 11.99 −0.09 pp
2001 12.09 −0.05 pp
2000 12.14 +0.02 pp
1999 12.12 +0.19 pp
1998 11.92 +0.04 pp
1997 11.88 −0.01 pp
1996 11.89 −0.09 pp
1995 11.98 −0.19 pp
1994 12.17 −0.13 pp
1993 12.3 +0.02 pp
1992 12.28 +0.09 pp
1991 12.19

About the indicator

The share of the economically active population aged 15–24 that is unemployed. In almost every country youth unemployment runs two to three times above the overall rate: the young have no experience, and their first entry into the labor market puts them up against more qualified workers. A sharp gap with the overall rate points to structural problems in the transition from school to work.

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