Unemployment rate in Rwanda
Rwanda: Unemployment rate was 12.42 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Rwanda, 2017–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Rwanda is 12.42, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 6.5% on the previous year and down 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Rwanda peaked at 21.15 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12.42, in 2025.
That places Rwanda 6th out of 41 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Unemployment rate in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 17.36 | — |
| 2018 | 15.11 | -12.9% |
| 2019 | 15.3 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 16.54 | +8.1% |
| 2021 | 21.15 | +27.9% |
| 2022 | 20.62 | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 17.28 | -16.2% |
| 2024 | 13.28 | -23.1% |
| 2025 | 12.42 | -6.5% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 12.42 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.89, 96% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 15.92 | 15.11 | 17.36 | 3 |
| 2020s | 16.88 | 12.42 | 21.15 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More work & labour data for Rwanda
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.267 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2752 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3518 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,483 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,403 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 16,639 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,140 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 32,779 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Rwanda?
- Unemployment rate in Rwanda was 12.42 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 21.15 in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.42 in 2025.
- How does Rwanda rank for unemployment rate?
- Rwanda ranks 6th out of 41 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.