Unemployment rate in Niger
Niger: Unemployment rate was 0.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rate in Niger, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Niger recorded 0.4% for unemployment rate in 2025.
That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and down 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Niger peaked at 3.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2011.
Niger ranks 184th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment rate in Niger, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.6% | — |
| 1992 | 1.6% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 1.5% | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 1.5% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 1.5% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 1.4% | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 1.8% | +23.0% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | +18.6% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | +28.3% |
| 2005 | 3.1% | +12.7% |
| 2006 | 2.5% | -18.5% |
| 2007 | 2.0% | -20.1% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -21.6% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | -23.7% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | -40.6% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -56.0% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | +588.9% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | -35.6% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -62.6% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 0.6% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 0.5% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 0.6% | +11.3% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | +36.4% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | -50.0% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 0.4% | -7.6% |
| 2025 | 0.4% | +4.8% |
Niger compared with similar countries
- Niger's 0.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.4%, 9% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Niger's 0.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 7% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate in Niger 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +588.9% | 0.3% | 2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | 1.2% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.3% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Niger
More work & labour data for Niger
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3834 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3492 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4172 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 2.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 5.26 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 19,464 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 48,989 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 45,615 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 45,204 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 90,819 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Niger?
- Unemployment rate in Niger was 0.4% 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 Niger?
- The highest recorded value was 3.1% in 2005.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Niger?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2011.
- How does Niger rank for unemployment rate?
- Niger ranks 184th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Niger?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Niger 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.