Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda

Uganda: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.4% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
3.4%
Change on year
up 33.3%
World rank
137th
of 187 countries
All-time high
3.6%
in 2003
All-time low
0.9%
in 2011
Years of data
12
2002–2021

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda, 2002–2021

12342002201120212002: 3.52003: 3.62005: 1.92009: 3.62010: 1.42011: 0.8812012: 3.62013: 1.92014: 1.62017: 3.42019: 2.62021: 3.4

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2021, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda stood at 3.4%.

That represents a change of up 33.3% on the previous year and up 287.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda peaked at 3.6% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2011.

That places Uganda 137th out of 187 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Uganda, 2002 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2002 3.5%
2003 3.6% +2.9%
2005 1.9% -47.3%
2009 3.6% +89.5%
2010 1.4% -61.1%
2011 0.9% -37.1%
2012 3.6% +303.1%
2013 1.9% -46.1%
2014 1.6% -18.2%
2017 3.4% +118.9%
2019 2.6% -25.2%
2021 3.4% +33.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 3.2% 1.9% 3.6% 4
2010s 2.2% 0.9% 3.6% 7
2020s 3.4% 3.4% 3.4% 1

Countries ranked near Uganda

  1. 134 Bulgaria 3.5% compare
  2. 135 Kyrgyzstan 3.5% compare
  3. 136 Nigeria 3.5% compare
  4. 138 Bhutan 3.4% compare
  5. 139 Indonesia 3.3% compare
  6. 140 Oman 3.3% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Uganda

All data for Uganda →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda?
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda was 3.4% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Uganda?
The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 2003.
What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Uganda?
The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2011.
How does Uganda rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Uganda ranks 137th out of 187 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Uganda?
Over the last ten years it is up 287.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Uganda 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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Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/uganda/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 6,054 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.