Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), Somalia or Sub-Saharan Africa?

Somalia, at 18.9% against 5.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Somalia and Sub-Saharan Africa?

35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.

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.

Somalia vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)

Somalia

18.9%

in 2025

Sub-Saharan Africa

5.7%

in 2025

Somalia rank

9th

Sub-Saharan Africa rank

12th

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) over time

Somalia
Sub-Saharan Africa

How they compare

Somalia currently reports 18.9% against 5.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa, a difference of 13.2%.

That makes Somalia's figure about 3.3 times Sub-Saharan Africa's.

Across all 35 years both countries report, Somalia has been ahead every year.

Somalia ranks 9th and Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th of 187 countries.

Somalia has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Somalia	Sub-Saharan Africa	Difference	Ahead
1990s	19.3%	6.4%	12.9%	Somalia
2000s	18.7%	6.0%	12.7%	Somalia
2010s	18.7%	5.9%	12.8%	Somalia
2020s	19.2%	6.1%	13.1%	Somalia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), Somalia or Sub-Saharan Africa?: Somalia, at 18.9% against 5.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa as of 2025.
What is the difference in unemployment, total (% of total labor force) between Somalia and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 13.2%, with Somalia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Somalia and Sub-Saharan Africa?: 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
How do Somalia and Sub-Saharan Africa rank globally for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?: Somalia ranks 9th 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.

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Somalia vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force). Statizoid, drawing on ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-modeled-ilo-estimate/somalia-fed-rep/sub-saharan-africa/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-modeled-ilo-estimate/somalia-fed-rep/sub-saharan-africa/">Somalia vs Sub-Saharan Africa: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 235 places, 8,211 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed: 03 September 2026

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.