Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Africa
Africa: Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS was 6.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Africa, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Africa is 6.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Africa peaked at 7.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 2023.
That places Africa 8th out of 39 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.6% | — |
| 2001 | 7.4% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 7.2% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 6.8% | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 6.5% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 6.7% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 6.7% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 6.5% | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 6.7% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 6.7% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 6.6% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 7.2% | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 7.2% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 6.5% | -10.8% |
| 2023 | 6.3% | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 6.3% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 6.3% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.9% | 6.3% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.6% | 6.5% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.6% | 6.3% | 7.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More work & labour data for Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3661 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3537 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3.81 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1.89 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1.93 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4458 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1.04 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1.49 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3781 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Africa?
- Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Africa was 6.3% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.6% in 2000.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 2023.
- How does Africa rank for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls?
- Africa ranks 8th out of 39 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).