Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Western Africa
Western Africa: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 2.97 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Western Africa, 1991–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Western Africa is 2.97, measured in 2027.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Western Africa peaked at 4.62 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.88, in 2024.
That places Western Africa 78th out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Western Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.68 | — |
| 1992 | 3.78 | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 3.9 | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 3.94 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 3.96 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 3.93 | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 3.91 | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 3.93 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 4.14 | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 4.19 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 4.11 | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 3.95 | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 3.88 | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 3.85 | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 3.9 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 3.8 | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 3.81 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 3.8 | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 3.81 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 3.77 | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 3.75 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 3.78 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 3.47 | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 3.69 | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 4 | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 3.99 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 4.11 | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 4.16 | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 4.22 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 4.62 | +9.4% |
| 2021 | 4.48 | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 3.34 | -25.5% |
| 2023 | 2.91 | -12.8% |
| 2024 | 2.88 | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 2.9 | +0.7% |
| 2026 | 2.93 | +1.1% |
| 2027 | 2.97 | +1.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Western Africa 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 | -25.5% | 4.48 | 3.34 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.91 | 3.68 | 4.14 | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.91 | 3.8 | 4.19 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.89 | 3.47 | 4.22 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.38 | 2.88 | 4.62 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Western Africa
More work & labour data for Western Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 532,234 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2192 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1926 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6577 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.78 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 516,634 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 293,084 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 537,547 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1.07 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Western Africa?
- Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Western Africa was 2.97 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Western Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.62 in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Western Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.88 in 2024.
- How does Western Africa rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Western Africa ranks 78th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Western Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Western Africa 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.