Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Rwanda
Rwanda: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 8.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Rwanda, 1996–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Rwanda stood at 8.6%.
That represents a change of down 48.2% on the previous year and up 346.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Rwanda peaked at 23.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1996.
That places Rwanda 119th out of 160 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.7% | — |
| 2014 | 1.9% | +159.4% |
| 2017 | 16.7% | +770.2% |
| 2018 | 16.2% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 16.0% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 15.9% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 23.2% | +46.1% |
| 2022 | 22.1% | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 18.3% | -17.4% |
| 2024 | 16.6% | -9.3% |
| 2025 | 8.6% | -48.2% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 8.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 8.8%, 98% of the median. (9 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 8.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.4%, 82% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 1.9% | 16.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 17.4% | 8.6% | 23.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 116 Afghanistan 8.8% compare
- 117 Switzerland 8.8% compare
- 118 Peru 8.7% compare
- 120 Kyrgyzstan 8.5% compare
- 121 Nicaragua 8.5% compare
- 122 Honduras 8.4% compare
More work & labour data for Rwanda
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.267 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.2752 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2591 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.3518 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,483 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,403 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 16,639 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,140 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 32,779 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Rwanda?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Rwanda was 8.6% in 2025, 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 23.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1996.
- How does Rwanda rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Rwanda ranks 119th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 346.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.