Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uganda
Uganda: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 4.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uganda, 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 Uganda is 4.2%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and up 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uganda peaked at 5.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2013.
Uganda ranks 167th 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uganda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.1% | — |
| 1992 | 5.2% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 5.2% | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 5.1% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | -5.5% |
| 1996 | 4.8% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 4.9% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 5.1% | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 5.1% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 5.2% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 5.2% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 5.1% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 5.3% | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 4.0% | -24.3% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | -29.3% |
| 2006 | 3.4% | +20.0% |
| 2007 | 4.0% | +17.7% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | +14.1% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | +17.0% |
| 2010 | 5.4% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 5.3% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 2.6% | -50.9% |
| 2014 | 3.3% | +28.3% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | +16.5% |
| 2016 | 4.4% | +13.9% |
| 2017 | 5.1% | +14.5% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 4.7% | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 5.7% | +21.3% |
| 2021 | 5.0% | -11.4% |
| 2022 | 4.3% | -14.0% |
| 2023 | 4.2% | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | -0.7% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 4.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.8%, 53% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 4.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.8%, 48% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uganda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | -50.9% | 5.3% | 2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.0% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 2.9% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.5% | 2.6% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 4.2% | 5.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More work & labour data for Uganda
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0408 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0266 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 46,664 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 59,035 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 60,822 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 60,013 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 120,835 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uganda?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uganda was 4.2% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2013.
- How does Uganda rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Uganda ranks 167th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.
Download this data
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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.