Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Sierra Leone

Youth unemployment in Sierra Leone in 2025 — 3.72%. Ranked 15 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 3.94 pp.

2025 3.72% +0.23 pp vs 2024
World rank 15of 182
Period maximum 9.44%2014
Period minimum 3.48%2023

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Sierra Leone, 1991–202524681019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 7.66%1992: 7.94%1993: 7.96%1994: 8.02%1995: 7.83%1996: 7.82%1997: 7.86%1998: 7.7%1999: 7.75%2000: 7.55%2001: 7.66%2002: 7.25%2003: 7.21%2004: 5.11%2005: 5.7%2006: 6.14%2007: 6.57%2008: 6.98%2009: 7.42%2010: 7.8%2011: 8.16%2012: 8.44%2013: 8.74%2014: 9.44%2015: 8.14%2016: 6.71%2017: 5.09%2018: 3.57%2019: 3.58%2020: 4.08%2021: 3.9%2022: 3.51%2023: 3.48%2024: 3.49%2025: 3.72%
Change over the period: −3.94 pp Annual average: -0.12 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone 3.72%
World 13.41%
Western Africa computed 4.95%
Low-income countries computed 8.88%
Youth unemployment — Sierra Leone, by year Sierra Leone All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 3.72 +0.23 pp
2024 3.49 +0.01 pp
2023 3.48 −0.03 pp
2022 3.51 −0.39 pp
2021 3.9 −0.18 pp
2020 4.08 +0.5 pp
2019 3.58 +0.01 pp
2018 3.57 −1.51 pp
2017 5.09 −1.62 pp
2016 6.71 −1.43 pp
2015 8.14 −1.31 pp
2014 9.44 +0.71 pp
2013 8.74 +0.29 pp
2012 8.44 +0.28 pp
2011 8.16 +0.36 pp
2010 7.8 +0.38 pp
2009 7.42 +0.45 pp
2008 6.98 +0.41 pp
2007 6.57 +0.43 pp
2006 6.14 +0.44 pp
2005 5.7 +0.59 pp
2004 5.11 −2.1 pp
2003 7.21 −0.04 pp
2002 7.25 −0.41 pp
2001 7.66 +0.11 pp
2000 7.55 −0.2 pp
1999 7.75 +0.04 pp
1998 7.7 −0.16 pp
1997 7.86 +0.05 pp
1996 7.82 −0.02 pp
1995 7.83 −0.18 pp
1994 8.02 +0.05 pp
1993 7.96 +0.02 pp
1992 7.94 +0.28 pp
1991 7.66 —

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.