Unemployment rate in Congo
Congo: Unemployment rate was 19.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
19.9%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
7th
of 186 countries
All-time high
22.3%
in 2020
All-time low
19.3%
in 2010
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in Congo, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Congo is 19.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Congo peaked at 22.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 19.3%, in 2010.
Congo ranks 7th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.0% | 19.9% | 20.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.8% | 19.6% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.0% | 19.3% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.7% | 19.9% | 22.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More work & labour data for Congo
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 67.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 70.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 93.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 65.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 68.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 70.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 66.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Congo?
- Unemployment rate in Congo was 19.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 22.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.3% in 2010.
- How does Congo rank for unemployment rate?
- Congo ranks 7th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Congo data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.