Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Somalia
Somalia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 34.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
34.2%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
15th
of 187 countries
All-time high
36.2%
in 1994
All-time low
33.2%
in 2017
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Somalia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Somalia stood at 34.2%.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Somalia peaked at 36.2% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 33.2%, in 2017.
Somalia ranks 15th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 34.7% | — |
| 1992 | 35.3% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 35.3% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 36.2% | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 35.5% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 35.3% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 34.3% | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 34.2% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 34.1% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 33.8% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 33.8% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 33.7% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 33.6% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 33.6% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 33.6% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 33.6% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 33.6% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 33.6% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 33.6% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 33.6% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 33.7% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 33.8% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 33.7% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 33.5% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 33.4% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 33.5% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 33.2% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 33.6% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 33.8% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 35.9% | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 35.3% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 34.3% | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 34.1% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 34.1% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 34.2% | +0.3% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 34.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.8%, 4.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 34.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.8%, 3.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35.0% | 34.1% | 36.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 33.7% | 33.6% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.6% | 33.2% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.7% | 34.1% | 35.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 12 French Polynesia 36.6% compare
- 13 Gabon 36.3% compare
- 14 Palestine, State of 36.1% compare
- 16 New Caledonia 33.1% compare
- 17 Syrian Arab Republic 33.1% compare
- 18 Yemen 32.6% compare
More work & labour data for Somalia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4323 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4971 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.7917 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 22,865 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,986 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 34,351 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 33,013 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 67,364 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Somalia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Somalia was 34.2% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 36.2% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.2% in 2017.
- How does Somalia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Somalia ranks 15th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Somalia 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.