Unemployment rate in Gabon
Gabon: Unemployment rate was 20.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate in Gabon, 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 Gabon is 20.2%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Gabon peaked at 21.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 16.9%, in 2005.
That places Gabon 6th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Gabon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 17.2% | — |
| 1992 | 17.7% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 17.8% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 17.8% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 17.4% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 17.3% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 17.2% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 17.2% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 17.6% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 17.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 17.4% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 17.1% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 17.1% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 16.9% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 18.3% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 19.2% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 19.8% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 20.4% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 19.9% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 19.7% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 19.7% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 19.9% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 19.9% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 20.1% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 20.3% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 20.5% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 20.4% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 21.3% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 21.2% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 20.3% | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 20.2% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 20.1% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 20.2% | +0.3% |
Gabon compared with similar countries
- Gabon's 20.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 3.6× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Gabon's 20.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 3.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.5% | 17.2% | 17.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 17.9% | 16.9% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.1% | 19.7% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.5% | 20.1% | 21.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gabon
More work & labour data for Gabon
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6318 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.6403 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6237 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4321 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,339 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 176.73 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 3,488 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 3,415 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 6,903 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Gabon?
- Unemployment rate in Gabon was 20.2% 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 Gabon?
- The highest recorded value was 21.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Gabon?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.9% in 2005.
- How does Gabon rank for unemployment rate?
- Gabon ranks 6th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Gabon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gabon 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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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.