Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Congo
Congo: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 41.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Congo, 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 Congo is 41.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Congo peaked at 47.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 38.9%, in 1991.
That places Congo 6th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 38.9% | — |
| 1992 | 39.0% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 39.2% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 39.9% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 39.9% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 39.7% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 39.5% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 39.5% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 40.1% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 40.0% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 40.4% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 40.1% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 40.8% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 41.1% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 41.1% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 41.0% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 41.9% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 42.1% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 42.1% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 41.2% | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 41.5% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 41.6% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 42.2% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 41.9% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 42.5% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 43.0% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 43.8% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 44.0% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 43.4% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 47.7% | +10.1% |
| 2021 | 45.9% | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 42.2% | -8.1% |
| 2023 | 41.7% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 41.6% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 41.6% | -0.0% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 41.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.6%, 4.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Congo's 41.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.0%, 4.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.5% | 38.9% | 40.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 41.0% | 40.0% | 42.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.5% | 41.2% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.4% | 41.6% | 47.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More work & labour data for Congo
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6949 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.6877 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.7017 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2906 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.46 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,208 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 2,302 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 10,131 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 9,894 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 20,026 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Congo?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Congo was 41.6% 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 47.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.9% in 1991.
- How does Congo rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Congo ranks 6th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Congo 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.