Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Africa: Upper-middle income

Africa: Upper-middle income: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 24.52 in 2027. ▬ Flat

Latest (2027)
24.52
Change on year
up 0.4%
Rank
3rd
of 87 groups
All-time high
25.93
in 2021
All-time low
18.16
in 2008
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Africa: Upper-middle income, 1991–2027

01020301991200920271991: 21.51992: 22.91993: 23.41994: 23.71995: 24.71996: 23.51997: 22.71998: 23.21999: 23.82000: 24.12001: 23.32002: 22.92003: 22.32004: 20.32005: 19.52006: 18.52007: 18.92008: 18.22009: 18.32010: 18.82011: 18.82012: 19.22013: 18.82014: 19.22015: 19.82016: 20.22017: 212018: 212019: 222020: 23.22021: 25.92022: 24.82023: 242024: 24.22025: 24.32026: 24.42027: 24.5

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2027, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Africa: Upper-middle income stood at 24.52.

That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 16.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Africa: Upper-middle income peaked at 25.93 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 18.16, in 2008.

Africa: Upper-middle income ranks 3rd of 87 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Africa: Upper-middle income, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Africa: Upper-middle income, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 21.54
1992 22.86 +6.1%
1993 23.38 +2.3%
1994 23.7 +1.4%
1995 24.69 +4.2%
1996 23.54 -4.7%
1997 22.72 -3.5%
1998 23.25 +2.3%
1999 23.81 +2.4%
2000 24.07 +1.1%
2001 23.31 -3.2%
2002 22.88 -1.8%
2003 22.31 -2.5%
2004 20.35 -8.8%
2005 19.52 -4.1%
2006 18.46 -5.4%
2007 18.86 +2.2%
2008 18.16 -3.7%
2009 18.34 +1.0%
2010 18.82 +2.6%
2011 18.8 -0.1%
2012 19.17 +2.0%
2013 18.79 -2.0%
2014 19.16 +1.9%
2015 19.75 +3.1%
2016 20.22 +2.4%
2017 21.05 +4.1%
2018 21.02 -0.1%
2019 22.01 +4.7%
2020 23.15 +5.2%
2021 25.93 +12.0%
2022 24.82 -4.2%
2023 24.02 -3.2%
2024 24.23 +0.9%
2025 24.31 +0.3%
2026 24.41 +0.4%
2027 24.52 +0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 23.28 21.54 24.69 9
2000s 20.63 18.16 24.07 10
2010s 19.88 18.79 22.01 10
2020s 24.42 23.15 25.93 8

Countries ranked near Africa: Upper-middle income

  1. 1 Eswatini 33.65 compare
  2. 2 South Africa 32.59 compare
  3. 3 Djibouti 26.05 compare
  4. 4 Botswana 24.77 compare
  5. 5 Palestine, State of 24.42 compare
  6. 6 Gabon 20.15 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Africa: Upper-middle income

All data for Africa: Upper-middle income →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Africa: Upper-middle income?
Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Africa: Upper-middle income was 24.52 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Africa: Upper-middle income?
The highest recorded value was 25.93 in 2021.
What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Africa: Upper-middle income?
The lowest recorded value was 18.16 in 2008.
How does Africa: Upper-middle income rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
Africa: Upper-middle income ranks 3rd out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Africa: Upper-middle income?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Africa: Upper-middle income data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Africa: Upper-middle income. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rate-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/africa-upper-middle-income/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,188 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. 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 ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.