Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 8.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Burkina Faso, 1985–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Burkina Faso stood at 8.1%.
The figure is up 86.7% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Burkina Faso peaked at 9.2% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1985.
That places Burkina Faso 62nd out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.6% | — |
| 1994 | 2.0% | +225.7% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | +31.8% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | -35.2% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | +133.7% |
| 2014 | 9.2% | +136.8% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | -49.8% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -64.9% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | +19.4% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | +195.2% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | -24.3% |
| 2025 | 8.1% | +86.7% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 8.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.7%, 1.4× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 8.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.5%, 1.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 2.0% | 2.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.8% | 1.7% | 3.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 1.6% | 9.2% | 3 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 1.9% | 8.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More work & labour data for Burkina Faso
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.016 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0657 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6828 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.33 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 21,677 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 21,530 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 25,421 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 24,433 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 49,854 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Burkina Faso?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Burkina Faso was 8.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2% in 2014.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1985.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Burkina Faso ranks 62nd out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.