SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Africa: Upper-middle income

Africa: Upper-middle income: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) was 24.52 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
24.52
Change on year
up 0.4%
Rank
3rd
of 87 groups
All-time high
25.93
in 2021
All-time low
18.16
in 2008
Years of data
28
2000–2027

SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Africa: Upper-middle income, 2000–2027

01020302000201320272000: 24.12001: 23.32002: 22.92003: 22.32004: 20.32005: 19.52006: 18.52007: 18.92008: 18.22009: 18.32010: 18.82011: 18.82012: 19.22013: 18.82014: 19.22015: 19.82016: 20.22017: 212018: 212019: 222020: 23.22021: 25.92022: 24.82023: 242024: 24.22025: 24.32026: 24.42027: 24.5

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Africa: Upper-middle income recorded 24.52 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in 2027.

The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 16.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Africa: Upper-middle income peaked at 25.93 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 18.16, in 2008.

Africa: Upper-middle income ranks 3rd of 87 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Africa: Upper-middle income, year by year

Annual values for SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Africa: Upper-middle income, 2000 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2000 24.07
2001 23.31 -3.2%
2002 22.88 -1.8%
2003 22.31 -2.5%
2004 20.35 -8.8%
2005 19.52 -4.1%
2006 18.46 -5.4%
2007 18.86 +2.2%
2008 18.16 -3.7%
2009 18.34 +1.0%
2010 18.82 +2.6%
2011 18.8 -0.1%
2012 19.17 +2.0%
2013 18.79 -2.0%
2014 19.16 +1.9%
2015 19.75 +3.1%
2016 20.22 +2.4%
2017 21.05 +4.1%
2018 21.02 -0.1%
2019 22.01 +4.7%
2020 23.15 +5.2%
2021 25.93 +12.0%
2022 24.82 -4.2%
2023 24.02 -3.2%
2024 24.23 +0.9%
2025 24.31 +0.3%
2026 24.41 +0.4%
2027 24.52 +0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 20.63 18.16 24.07 10
2010s 19.88 18.79 22.01 10
2020s 24.42 23.15 25.93 8

Countries ranked near Africa: Upper-middle income

  1. 1 South Africa 32.28 compare
  2. 2 Palestine, State of 28.71 compare
  3. 3 Botswana 24.43 compare
  4. 4 Guadeloupe 23.8 compare
  5. 5 French Guiana 23.2 compare
  6. 6 Réunion 22.39 compare

See the full ranking of 266 places →

More work & labour data for Africa: Upper-middle income

All data for Africa: Upper-middle income →

Frequently asked questions

What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Africa: Upper-middle income?
Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Africa: Upper-middle income was 24.52 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Africa: Upper-middle income?
The highest recorded value was 25.93 in 2021.
What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Africa: Upper-middle income?
The lowest recorded value was 18.16 in 2008.
How does Africa: Upper-middle income rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition)?
Africa: Upper-middle income ranks 3rd out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) rising or falling in Africa: Upper-middle income?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Africa: Upper-middle income data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Africa: Upper-middle income. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/sdg-indicator-8-5-2-unemployment-rate-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/africa-upper-middle-income/

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About this data

Indicator
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
266 places, 5,648 data points, 2000–2027
Last refreshed

Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.