Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 5.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
5.1%
Change on year
up 8.7%
World rank
157th
of 187 countries
All-time high
14.5%
in 2014
All-time low
4.6%
in 2023
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 5.1% for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.7% on the previous year and down 58.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone peaked at 14.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 2023.
Sierra Leone ranks 157th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.7% | — |
| 1992 | 9.0% | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 9.0% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 9.1% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 8.9% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 8.9% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 9.0% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 8.8% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 8.8% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 8.6% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 8.7% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 8.3% | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | -11.4% |
| 2005 | 8.2% | +12.6% |
| 2006 | 8.9% | +8.7% |
| 2007 | 9.6% | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 10.3% | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 11.0% | +7.2% |
| 2010 | 11.7% | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 12.3% | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 13.3% | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 14.5% | +8.9% |
| 2015 | 12.1% | -16.4% |
| 2016 | 9.7% | -20.1% |
| 2017 | 7.1% | -26.8% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -33.1% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +11.4% |
| 2021 | 5.1% | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | -8.4% |
| 2023 | 4.6% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 5.1% | +8.7% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 5.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.2%, 71% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 5.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.0%, 56% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.9% | 8.7% | 9.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.9% | 7.3% | 11.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.3% | 4.7% | 14.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 154 Mexico 5.4% compare
- 155 Moldova 5.2% compare
- 156 Madagascar 5.2% compare
- 158 Burkina Faso 4.9% compare
- 159 United Arab Emirates 4.7% compare
- 160 Cuba 4.6% compare
More work & labour data for Sierra Leone
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1141 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1389 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.091 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.2881 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,725 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,247 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 8,103 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 7,832 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 15,934 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone was 5.1% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 14.5% in 2014.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 2023.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Sierra Leone ranks 157th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.