Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Rwanda
Rwanda: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 5.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Rwanda, 1989–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 5.4% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 52.7% on the previous year and up 358.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Rwanda peaked at 15.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1991.
Rwanda ranks 93rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0.8% | — |
| 1991 | 0.3% | -62.5% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +88.0% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | +58.7% |
| 2012 | 3.4% | +284.1% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | -66.0% |
| 2017 | 11.9% | +915.8% |
| 2018 | 10.8% | -9.4% |
| 2019 | 11.2% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 11.8% | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | +33.4% |
| 2022 | 15.1% | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 12.4% | -18.1% |
| 2024 | 11.3% | -8.3% |
| 2025 | 5.4% | -52.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.7% | 1.2% | 11.9% | 5 |
| 2020s | 12.0% | 5.4% | 15.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More work & labour data for Rwanda
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.267 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2752 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3518 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,483 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,403 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 16,639 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,140 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 32,779 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Rwanda?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Rwanda was 5.4% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 15.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1991.
- How does Rwanda rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Rwanda ranks 93rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 358.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.