Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 14.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Eastern and Southern is 14.4%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 16.9% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 14.4%, in 2025.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 25th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 16.6% | — |
| 1992 | 16.6% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 16.4% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 16.2% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 16.0% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 16.1% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 16.2% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 16.3% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 16.4% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 16.3% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 16.3% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 16.5% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 16.2% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 15.8% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 15.6% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 15.5% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 15.9% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 16.8% | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 16.9% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 16.4% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 15.7% | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 15.2% | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 14.9% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 15.0% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 14.7% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 14.6% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 14.7% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 16.3% | +10.9% |
| 2021 | 16.2% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 15.1% | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 14.8% | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 14.6% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 14.4% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.3% | 16.0% | 16.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.0% | 15.5% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.5% | 14.6% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.2% | 14.4% | 16.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 22 New Caledonia 36.6% compare
- 23 Tunisia 36.0% compare
- 24 Cape Verde 33.9% compare
- 25 Iran 32.0% compare
- 26 Georgia 31.9% compare
- 27 Bosnia and Herzegovina 31.4% compare
- 28 Armenia 30.6% compare
More work & labour data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 70.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 63.7% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 86.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 48.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 65.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 50.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 52.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Eastern and Southern was 14.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 16.9% in 2011.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.4% in 2025.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 25th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.