Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 4.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso is 4.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and down 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso peaked at 7.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 1997.
Burkina Faso ranks 158th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.6% | — |
| 1992 | 3.6% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 3.6% | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 3.7% | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 3.7% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 3.6% | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 3.5% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 3.6% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 3.8% | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 3.9% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | +23.5% |
| 2005 | 5.3% | +14.7% |
| 2006 | 4.8% | -9.2% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -10.8% |
| 2008 | 4.7% | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 5.1% | +8.5% |
| 2010 | 5.3% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 5.5% | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 5.7% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 6.1% | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | +6.3% |
| 2015 | 6.9% | +6.3% |
| 2016 | 7.2% | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 7.4% | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 7.6% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 7.1% | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 7.2% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 6.7% | -7.0% |
| 2022 | 5.6% | -16.7% |
| 2023 | 5.2% | -8.0% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | -7.1% |
| 2025 | 4.9% | +3.0% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 4.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.2%, 69% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 4.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.0%, 55% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 3.8% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.5% | 5.3% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.7% | 4.8% | 7.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
- 155 Moldova 5.2% compare
- 156 Madagascar 5.2% compare
- 157 Sierra Leone 5.1% compare
- 159 United Arab Emirates 4.7% compare
- 160 Cuba 4.6% compare
- 161 Papua New Guinea 4.6% compare
More work & labour data for Burkina Faso
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.016 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0657 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6828 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.33 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 21,677 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 21,530 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 25,421 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 24,433 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 49,854 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso was 4.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 7.6% in 2018.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 1997.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Burkina Faso ranks 158th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male 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.