Unemployment rate in Somalia
Somalia: Unemployment rate was 18.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
18.9%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
9th
of 186 countries
All-time high
20.0%
in 1994
All-time low
18.5%
in 2017
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in Somalia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 18.9% for unemployment rate in 2025.
The figure is up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Somalia peaked at 20.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 18.5%, in 2017.
That places Somalia 9th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Unemployment rate in Somalia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.0% | — |
| 1992 | 19.4% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 19.3% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 20.0% | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 19.6% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 19.5% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 18.9% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 18.8% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 18.8% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 18.7% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 18.7% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 18.7% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 18.6% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 18.7% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 18.7% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 18.7% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 18.7% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 18.7% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 18.7% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 18.7% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 18.8% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 18.8% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 18.7% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 18.6% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 18.5% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 18.6% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 18.5% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 18.7% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 18.8% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 19.4% | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 19.7% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 19.1% | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 19.0% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 18.9% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 18.9% | -0.0% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 18.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.4%, 4.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 18.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 3.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.3% | 18.8% | 20.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.7% | 18.6% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.7% | 18.5% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.2% | 18.9% | 19.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More work & labour data for Somalia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4323 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4971 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.7917 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 22,865 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,986 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 34,351 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 33,013 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 67,364 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Somalia?
- Unemployment rate in Somalia was 18.9% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.0% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.5% in 2017.
- How does Somalia rank for unemployment rate?
- Somalia ranks 9th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Somalia 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.