Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 6.7% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sao Tome and Principe, 1979–2017
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sao Tome and Principe recorded 6.7% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2017.
That represents a change of down 60.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 17.6% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1984.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 70th out of 187 countries with data for 2017, putting it 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 Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0.6% | — |
| 1980 | 0.6% | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | +22.8% |
| 1982 | 0.6% | -20.0% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | -14.3% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | -29.2% |
| 2000 | 14.4% | +4135.3% |
| 2001 | 15.7% | +9.3% |
| 2002 | 17.6% | +12.0% |
| 2003 | 16.4% | -7.2% |
| 2004 | 16.1% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 16.5% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 16.6% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 13.6% | -18.4% |
| 2017 | 6.7% | -51.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 6.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 1.3× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 6.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 1.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sao Tome and Principe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +4135.3% | 0.3% | 14.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 5 |
| 2000s | 16.2% | 14.4% | 17.6% | 7 |
| 2010s | 10.1% | 6.7% | 13.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More work & labour data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2544 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2707 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2382 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0643 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.73 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 323.75 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 56 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 271.01 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 263 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 534.01 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Sao Tome and Principe was 6.7% in 2017, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 17.6% in 2002.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1984.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 70th out of 187 countries with data for 2017.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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.
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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.