Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya

Kenya: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 17.0% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
17.0%
Change on year
up 22.5%
World rank
69th
of 157 countries
All-time high
26.0%
in 1999
All-time low
7.4%
in 2016
Years of data
5
1999–2021

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya, 1999–2021

5101520251999201020211999: 262005: 20.62016: 7.42019: 13.82021: 17

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

Analysis

In 2021, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya stood at 17.0%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.5% on the previous year and up 128.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya peaked at 26.0% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 2016.

That places Kenya 69th out of 157 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Kenya, 1999 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1999 26.0%
2005 20.6% -20.7%
2016 7.4% -64.0%
2019 13.8% +86.4%
2021 17.0% +22.5%

Kenya compared with similar countries

  • Kenya's 17.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.5%, 1.5× the median. (32 countries reporting)
  • Kenya's 17.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.5%, 1.5× the median. (26 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 26.0% 26.0% 26.0% 1
2000s 20.6% 20.6% 20.6% 1
2010s 10.6% 7.4% 13.8% 2
2020s 17.0% 17.0% 17.0% 1

Countries ranked near Kenya

  1. 66 Barbados 17.5% compare
  2. 67 Mauritius 17.5% compare
  3. 68 Angola 17.0% compare
  4. 70 Mongolia 16.9% compare
  5. 71 Venezuela 16.8% compare
  6. 72 United Arab Emirates 16.6% compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More work & labour data for Kenya

All data for Kenya →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya?
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya was 17.0% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Kenya?
The highest recorded value was 26.0% in 1999.
What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Kenya?
The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 2016.
How does Kenya rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
Kenya ranks 69th out of 157 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Kenya?
Over the last ten years it is up 128.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Kenya data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-youth-female-percent-of-female-labor-force-ages-15-24-national-estimate/kenya/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
178 places, 4,080 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.