Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Eastern Africa
Eastern Africa: Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS was 4.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
4.5%
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
27th
of 39 groups
All-time high
4.9%
in 2021
All-time low
3.5%
in 2014
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Eastern Africa, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Eastern Africa stood at 4.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Eastern Africa peaked at 4.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2014.
Eastern Africa ranks 27th of 39 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Eastern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.6% | — |
| 2001 | 4.5% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 4.5% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 4.1% | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 3.9% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 4.2% | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 4.0% | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 3.8% | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 4.8% | +17.9% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 4.5% | -3.0% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 4.5% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.2% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eastern Africa
- 24 Montenegro 11.5% compare
- 25 Rwanda 11.3% compare
- 26 Cabo Verde 11.3% compare
- 27 Bosnia and Herzegovina 10.7% compare
- 28 Albania 10.7% compare
- 29 Spain 10.5% compare
- 30 New Caledonia 10.2% compare
More work & labour data for Eastern Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 682,632 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4374 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4375 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5671 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 469,912 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 418,217 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1.38 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 699,973 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Eastern Africa?
- Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Eastern Africa was 4.5% 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 Eastern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.9% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Eastern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2014.
- How does Eastern Africa rank for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls?
- Eastern Africa ranks 27th out of 39 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls rising or falling in Eastern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Eastern 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
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