Libya vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)
Libya
18.8%
in 2025
Sub-Saharan Africa
5.7%
in 2025
Libya rank
10th
Sub-Saharan Africa rank
12th
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) over time
- Libya
- Sub-Saharan Africa
How they compare
Libya currently reports 18.8% against 5.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 13.1%.
That makes Libya's figure about 3.3 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.
Across all 35 years both countries report, Libya has been ahead every year.
Libya ranks 10th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th of 187 countries.
Libya has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Libya | Sub-Saharan Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.1% | 6.4% | 12.7% | Libya |
| 2000s | 19.0% | 6.0% | 13.1% | Libya |
| 2010s | 19.3% | 5.9% | 13.4% | Libya |
| 2020s | 19.2% | 6.1% | 13.1% | Libya |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), Libya or Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Libya, at 18.8% against 5.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in unemployment, total (% of total labor force) between Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 13.1%, with Libya ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Libya ranks 10th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.