Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 3.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone is 3.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 6.5% on the previous year and down 54.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone peaked at 9.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2023.
That places Sierra Leone 173rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.7% | — |
| 1992 | 7.9% | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 8.0% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 8.0% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 7.8% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 7.8% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 7.9% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 7.7% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 7.7% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 7.7% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 7.2% | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 7.2% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 5.1% | -29.1% |
| 2005 | 5.7% | +11.5% |
| 2006 | 6.1% | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 6.6% | +6.9% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 7.4% | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 8.2% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 8.4% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 8.7% | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 9.4% | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 8.1% | -13.8% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | -17.6% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | -24.1% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | -29.8% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | +13.9% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 3.5% | -10.0% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | +6.5% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 3.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.8%, 47% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 3.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.8%, 42% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.8% | 7.7% | 8.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 5.1% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.0% | 3.6% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 170 Mali 3.9% compare
- 171 Kazakhstan 3.8% compare
- 172 Papua New Guinea 3.8% compare
- 174 Timor-Leste 3.7% compare
- 175 Senegal 3.6% compare
- 176 Togo 3.4% 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Sierra Leone was 3.7% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 9.4% in 2014.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2023.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Sierra Leone ranks 173rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.3%. 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 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.