Youth unemployment rate in South Sudan
South Sudan: Youth unemployment rate was 18.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Youth unemployment rate in South Sudan, 1991–2023
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Sudan recorded 18.5% for youth unemployment rate in 2023.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth unemployment rate in South Sudan peaked at 21.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.9%, in 1997.
That places South Sudan 59th out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Youth unemployment rate in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.3% | — |
| 1992 | 18.3% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 18.1% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 18.2% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 18.2% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 18.2% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 17.9% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 17.9% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 18.1% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 18.4% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 18.4% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 18.4% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 18.6% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 18.7% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 18.8% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 18.8% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 18.9% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 19.0% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 19.3% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 19.4% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 19.6% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 19.9% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 19.7% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 19.6% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 19.4% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 19.8% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 19.8% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 19.6% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 19.3% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 21.8% | +13.4% |
| 2021 | 20.8% | -4.8% |
| 2022 | 18.7% | -10.0% |
| 2023 | 18.5% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.1% | 17.9% | 18.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.7% | 18.4% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.6% | 19.3% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.0% | 18.5% | 21.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More work & labour data for South Sudan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16,235 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.59 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6635 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0382 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,132 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 11,542 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0243 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 23,841 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 12,299 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0087 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth unemployment rate in South Sudan?
- Youth unemployment rate in South Sudan was 18.5% in 2023, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest youth unemployment rate recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest youth unemployment rate recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.9% in 1997.
- How does South Sudan rank for youth unemployment rate?
- South Sudan ranks 59th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is youth unemployment rate rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Sudan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Youth unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force aged 15-24 without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.