Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mozambique
Mozambique: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 11.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mozambique, 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 Mozambique is 11.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 63.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mozambique peaked at 11.6% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 1998.
That places Mozambique 103rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Mozambique, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6.0% | — |
| 1992 | 6.3% | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 6.0% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 5.8% | -3.5% |
| 1996 | 5.8% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 5.6% | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 6.1% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 6.2% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 6.5% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 6.6% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 6.6% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 6.8% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 6.9% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 6.9% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 6.9% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 7.0% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 7.0% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 7.1% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 7.4% | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 7.8% | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 8.2% | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 8.5% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 9.7% | +14.1% |
| 2021 | 9.8% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 11.6% | +18.1% |
| 2023 | 11.5% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 11.5% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 11.6% | +1.0% |
Mozambique compared with similar countries
- Mozambique's 11.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.8%, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Mozambique's 11.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.8%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.9% | 5.6% | 6.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.4% | 6.0% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.4% | 6.9% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.0% | 9.7% | 11.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
More work & labour data for Mozambique
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3732 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3516 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3933 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6952 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 37,473 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 30,302 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 53,829 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,517 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 104,347 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mozambique?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Mozambique was 11.6% 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 Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 11.6% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 1998.
- How does Mozambique rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Mozambique ranks 103rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mozambique 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.