SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Uganda

Uganda: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) was 3.42 in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
3.42
Change on year
up 33.3%
World rank
129th
of 179 countries
All-time high
3.6
in 2003
All-time low
0.882
in 2011
Years of data
12
2002–2021

SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Uganda, 2002–2021

12342002201120212002: 3.52003: 3.62005: 1.92009: 3.62010: 1.42011: 0.8822012: 3.62013: 1.92014: 1.62017: 3.42019: 2.62021: 3.4

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Uganda is 3.42, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 33.3% on the previous year and up 287.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Uganda peaked at 3.6 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.882, in 2011.

That places Uganda 129th out of 179 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.

SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Uganda, year by year

Annual values for SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Uganda, 2002 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2002 3.5
2003 3.6 +2.9%
2005 1.9 -47.3%
2009 3.6 +89.5%
2010 1.4 -61.1%
2011 0.882 -37.0%
2012 3.55 +302.6%
2013 1.91 -46.1%
2014 1.57 -18.2%
2017 3.43 +118.9%
2019 2.56 -25.2%
2021 3.42 +33.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3.15 1.9 3.6 4
2010s 2.19 0.882 3.55 7
2020s 3.42 3.42 3.42 1

Countries ranked near Uganda

  1. 126 Bulgaria 3.52 compare
  2. 127 Kyrgyzstan 3.5 compare
  3. 128 Nigeria 3.45 compare
  4. 130 Bhutan 3.36 compare
  5. 131 Indonesia 3.31 compare
  6. 132 Oman 3.3 compare

See the full ranking of 266 places →

More work & labour data for Uganda

All data for Uganda →

Frequently asked questions

What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Uganda?
Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Uganda was 3.42 in 2021, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Uganda?
The highest recorded value was 3.6 in 2003.
What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Uganda?
The lowest recorded value was 0.882 in 2011.
How does Uganda rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition)?
Uganda ranks 129th out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) rising or falling in Uganda?
Over the last ten years it is up 287.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Uganda 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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CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).

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SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Uganda. 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/uganda/

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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.