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.