Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS was 5.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
5.7%
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
10th
of 39 groups
All-time high
6.8%
in 2021
All-time low
5.3%
in 2013
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 5.7%.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 6.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2013.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 10th out of 39 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.1% | — |
| 2001 | 6.0% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 5.9% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 5.6% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 5.5% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 5.5% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 5.6% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 5.7% | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 5.5% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 5.3% | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 5.4% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 6.1% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 6.5% | +7.8% |
| 2021 | 6.8% | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 6.1% | -10.4% |
| 2023 | 5.8% | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 5.8% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 5.7% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.7% | 5.5% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.7% | 5.3% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.1% | 5.7% | 6.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 239,462 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 70.23 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 564,978 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.5 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 5.73 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 11,723 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 4,279 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 66.21 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.04 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.92 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Sub-Saharan Africa was 5.7% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2013.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 10th out of 39 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan 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).