Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 6.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central stood at 6.3%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 9.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 2025.
Africa Western and Central ranks 47th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6.8% | — |
| 1992 | 7.0% | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 7.2% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 7.2% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 7.1% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 7.1% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 7.1% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 7.1% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 7.5% | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 7.5% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 7.2% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 7.2% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 7.3% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 7.1% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 7.2% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 7.3% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 7.4% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 7.4% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 7.3% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 7.2% | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 7.5% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 8.0% | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 7.9% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 8.1% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 8.2% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 8.5% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 9.6% | +13.7% |
| 2021 | 8.6% | -10.8% |
| 2022 | 6.9% | -19.5% |
| 2023 | 6.3% | -8.3% |
| 2024 | 6.3% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 6.3% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.1% | 6.8% | 7.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.3% | 7.1% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.8% | 7.2% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.3% | 6.3% | 9.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More work & labour data for Africa Western and Central
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 67.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 72.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 49.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 68.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 52.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 54.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Africa Western and Central was 6.3% 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 2025.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 47th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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.