Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Kenya
Kenya: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 5.32 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Kenya, 1991–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 5.32 for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in 2027.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and up 50.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Kenya peaked at 5.69 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.64, in 2007.
That places Kenya 89th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.78 | — |
| 1992 | 2.89 | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 2.98 | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 2.96 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 2.85 | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 2.77 | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 2.82 | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 2.84 | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 2.88 | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 2.88 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2.88 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 2.92 | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 2.87 | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 2.84 | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 2.74 | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 2.67 | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 2.64 | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 2.75 | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 2.82 | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 2.79 | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 2.7 | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 2.68 | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 2.76 | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 2.77 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.76 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 2.76 | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 3.54 | +28.5% |
| 2018 | 4.28 | +20.9% |
| 2019 | 5.01 | +17.0% |
| 2020 | 5.61 | +11.9% |
| 2021 | 5.69 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 5.57 | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 5.41 | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 5.49 | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 5.45 | -0.7% |
| 2026 | 5.39 | -1.2% |
| 2027 | 5.32 | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.86 | 2.77 | 2.98 | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.8 | 2.64 | 2.92 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.21 | 2.68 | 5.01 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.49 | 5.32 | 5.69 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More work & labour data for Kenya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0073 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2281 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,185 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 51,282 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 53,727 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,468 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 104,196 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Kenya?
- Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Kenya was 5.32 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 5.69 in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.64 in 2007.
- How does Kenya rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Kenya ranks 89th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
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.