Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uganda

Uganda: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 2.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
2.9%
Change on year
down 6.2%
World rank
139th
of 181 countries
All-time high
3.0%
in 2019
All-time low
0.7%
in 2011
Years of data
11
2002–2021

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uganda, 2002–2021

0.511.522.532002201120212002: 2.62003: 2.72005: 1.72010: 1.32011: 0.7272012: 2.92013: 1.42014: 1.62017: 2.92019: 32021: 2.9

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uganda is 2.9%, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.2% on the previous year and up 293.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uganda peaked at 3.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 2011.

Uganda ranks 139th of 181 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uganda, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Uganda, 2002 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2002 2.6%
2003 2.7% +3.7%
2005 1.7% -37.0%
2010 1.3% -24.4%
2011 0.7% -43.5%
2012 2.9% +295.0%
2013 1.4% -52.4%
2014 1.6% +14.6%
2017 2.9% +86.5%
2019 3.0% +4.3%
2021 2.9% -6.2%

Uganda compared with similar countries

  • Uganda's 2.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 5.4%, 53% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
  • Uganda's 2.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.4%, 65% of the median. (32 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.3% 1.7% 2.7% 3
2010s 2.0% 0.7% 3.0% 7
2020s 2.9% 2.9% 2.9% 1

Countries ranked near Uganda

  1. 136 Ethiopia 2.9% compare
  2. 137 San Marino 2.9% compare
  3. 138 Macau, China 2.9% compare
  4. 140 Korea 2.8% compare
  5. 141 Poland 2.8% compare
  6. 142 Liechtenstein 2.7% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More work & labour data for Uganda

All data for Uganda →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uganda?
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uganda was 2.9% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Uganda?
The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 2019.
What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Uganda?
The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 2011.
How does Uganda rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
Uganda ranks 139th out of 181 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Uganda?
Over the last ten years it is up 293.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Uganda data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uganda. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-national-estimate/uganda/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
205 places, 5,415 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.