Unemployment rate for young people in Nigeria
Nigeria: Unemployment rate for young people was 5.34 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment rate for young people in Nigeria, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate for young people in Nigeria is 5.34, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.0% on the previous year and down 36.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate for young people in Nigeria peaked at 10.84 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.09, in 2024.
Nigeria ranks 159th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment rate for young people in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.43 | — |
| 1992 | 7.24 | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 7.56 | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 7.58 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 7.7 | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 7.54 | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 7.45 | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 7.41 | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 7.55 | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 7.57 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 7.54 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 7.22 | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 7.23 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 7.23 | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 7.54 | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 7.69 | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 7.86 | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 7.92 | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 7.84 | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 7.86 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 7.9 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 7.86 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 7.71 | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 8.04 | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 8.46 | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 9.1 | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 9.71 | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 10.14 | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 10.42 | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 10.84 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 8.99 | -17.1% |
| 2022 | 6.02 | -33.0% |
| 2023 | 5.13 | -14.8% |
| 2024 | 5.09 | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 5.34 | +5.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 5.34 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.12, 53% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 5.34 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.79, 61% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate for young people in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -33.0% | 8.99 | 6.02 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.5 | 7.24 | 7.7 | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.56 | 7.22 | 7.92 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.72 | 7.71 | 10.42 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.9 | 5.09 | 10.84 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More work & labour data for Nigeria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0025 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3624 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 287,130 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 123,508 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 237,227 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 239,521 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 476,748 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate for young people in Nigeria?
- Unemployment rate for young people in Nigeria was 5.34 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate for young people recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 10.84 in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate for young people recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.09 in 2024.
- How does Nigeria rank for unemployment rate for young people?
- Nigeria ranks 159th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate for young people rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate for young people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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