Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Eastern Africa

Youth unemployment in Eastern Africa in 2025 — 7.77%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 0.31 pp.

2025 7.77% −0.04 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 8.41%2020
Period minimum 6.21%2014

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Eastern Africa, 1991–2025678919911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 8.08%1992: 8.2%1993: 8.19%1994: 8.04%1995: 7.8%1996: 7.79%1997: 7.77%1998: 7.76%1999: 7.85%2000: 7.78%2001: 7.61%2002: 7.58%2003: 7.53%2004: 7.2%2005: 6.92%2006: 6.83%2007: 6.71%2008: 6.58%2009: 6.88%2010: 7.31%2011: 7.09%2012: 6.69%2013: 6.35%2014: 6.21%2015: 6.31%2016: 6.39%2017: 6.68%2018: 6.95%2019: 7.27%2020: 8.41%2021: 8.26%2022: 8.3%2023: 8.08%2024: 7.81%2025: 7.77%
Change over the period: −0.31 pp Annual average: -0.01 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Eastern Africa

Eastern Africa 7.77%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Eastern Africa, by year Eastern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 7.77 −0.04 pp
2024 7.81 −0.27 pp
2023 8.08 −0.22 pp
2022 8.3 +0.04 pp
2021 8.26 −0.15 pp
2020 8.41 +1.14 pp
2019 7.27 +0.31 pp
2018 6.95 +0.27 pp
2017 6.68 +0.29 pp
2016 6.39 +0.08 pp
2015 6.31 +0.1 pp
2014 6.21 −0.13 pp
2013 6.35 −0.34 pp
2012 6.69 −0.4 pp
2011 7.09 −0.22 pp
2010 7.31 +0.43 pp
2009 6.88 +0.3 pp
2008 6.58 −0.12 pp
2007 6.71 −0.13 pp
2006 6.83 −0.09 pp
2005 6.92 −0.28 pp
2004 7.2 −0.33 pp
2003 7.53 −0.05 pp
2002 7.58 −0.03 pp
2001 7.61 −0.17 pp
2000 7.78 −0.07 pp
1999 7.85 +0.09 pp
1998 7.76 −0 pp
1997 7.77 −0.02 pp
1996 7.79 −0.01 pp
1995 7.8 −0.25 pp
1994 8.04 −0.15 pp
1993 8.19 −0 pp
1992 8.2 +0.11 pp
1991 8.08

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.