Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya
Kenya: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 12.3% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya, 1999–2021
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2021, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya stood at 12.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and up 67.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya peaked at 21.3% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 2016.
Kenya ranks 92nd of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 21.3% | — |
| 2005 | 19.7% | -7.7% |
| 2016 | 7.4% | -62.6% |
| 2019 | 12.9% | +74.8% |
| 2021 | 12.3% | -4.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 12.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.0%, 1.4× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 12.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.4%, 1.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.3% | 21.3% | 21.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 19.7% | 19.7% | 19.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 10.1% | 7.4% | 12.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More work & labour data for Kenya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0073 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2281 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,185 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 51,282 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 53,727 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,468 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 104,196 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kenya was 12.3% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 21.3% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 2016.
- How does Kenya rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Kenya ranks 92nd out of 160 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.