LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was 15.51 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
15.51
Change on year
up 0.0%
Rank
13th
of 87 groups
All-time high
17.23
in 2020
All-time low
13.98
in 2005
Years of data
23
2005–2027

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2005–2027

0510152005201620272005: 142006: 142007: 14.22008: 14.42009: 14.72010: 15.12011: 15.22012: 15.32013: 15.32014: 15.42015: 15.72016: 15.92017: 16.12018: 16.12019: 16.12020: 17.22021: 172022: 162023: 15.52024: 15.52025: 15.52026: 15.52027: 15.5

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 15.51 for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in 2027.

That represents a change of down 3.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 17.23 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 13.98, in 2005.

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 13th of 87 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2005 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2005 13.98
2006 14.01 +0.2%
2007 14.16 +1.1%
2008 14.36 +1.4%
2009 14.73 +2.6%
2010 15.07 +2.3%
2011 15.18 +0.7%
2012 15.29 +0.8%
2013 15.29 -0.0%
2014 15.44 +1.0%
2015 15.72 +1.8%
2016 15.89 +1.1%
2017 16.11 +1.4%
2018 16.09 -0.1%
2019 16.14 +0.4%
2020 17.23 +6.7%
2021 17.04 -1.1%
2022 16.01 -6.0%
2023 15.54 -3.0%
2024 15.52 -0.1%
2025 15.52 -0.0%
2026 15.51 -0.1%
2027 15.51 +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 14.25 13.98 14.73 5
2010s 15.62 15.07 16.14 10
2020s 15.98 15.51 17.23 8

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 10 Gabon 27.06 compare
  2. 11 Namibia 26.9 compare
  3. 12 Nicaragua 26.89 compare
  4. 13 Haiti 25.88 compare
  5. 13 Palestine 25.88 compare
  6. 15 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 25.65 compare
  7. 16 Libya 25.47 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa was 15.51 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 17.23 in 2020.
What is the lowest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 13.98 in 2005.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 13th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu2-combined-rate-of-time-related-underemployment-and-unemployment-ilo-modelled-estimates-2/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 6,324 data points, 2005–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. LU2 represents the share of the labour force that are either in unemployment or time-related underemployment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.