Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 5.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nigeria, 1986–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2024, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nigeria stood at 5.4%.
That represents a change of up 5.1% on the previous year and down 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nigeria peaked at 15.4% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 5.2%, in 2023.
Nigeria ranks 138th of 160 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 15.4% | — |
| 2011 | 9.8% | -35.8% |
| 2013 | 10.1% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | -19.3% |
| 2015 | 7.7% | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 12.4% | +61.2% |
| 2017 | 13.8% | +11.7% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | -33.1% |
| 2022 | 6.1% | -34.4% |
| 2023 | 5.2% | -14.4% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | +5.1% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 5.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.0%, 60% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 5.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.4%, 52% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.4% | 15.4% | 15.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 10.2% | 7.7% | 13.8% | 7 |
| 2020s | 5.6% | 5.2% | 6.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More work & labour data for Nigeria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0306 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0025 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.0591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3624 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.71 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 287,130 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 123,508 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 237,227 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 239,521 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 476,748 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nigeria?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nigeria was 5.4% in 2024, 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 15.4% in 1986.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2% in 2023.
- How does Nigeria rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Nigeria ranks 138th out of 160 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.
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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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.