Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 6.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso is 6.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso peaked at 8.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 1993.
That places Burkina Faso 152nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.9% | — |
| 1992 | 3.9% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 3.8% | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 4.0% | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 3.9% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 3.8% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 3.9% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 4.3% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 4.4% | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 5.4% | +24.9% |
| 2005 | 6.3% | +16.1% |
| 2006 | 5.8% | -8.2% |
| 2007 | 5.2% | -9.9% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 5.8% | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 6.2% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 6.5% | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 7.2% | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 7.4% | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 7.6% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 7.4% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 8.0% | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 7.6% | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 6.7% | -12.0% |
| 2023 | 6.6% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 6.5% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 6.4% | -1.3% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 6.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.8%, 82% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 6.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.8%, 73% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.1% | 4.2% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.9% | 5.9% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.0% | 6.4% | 8.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Burkina Faso was 6.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 8.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 1993.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Burkina Faso ranks 152nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. 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 total (% of total 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.