Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Africa
Africa: Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex was 22.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Africa, 2005–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Africa is 22.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Africa peaked at 24.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 21.3%, in 2013.
That places Africa 11th out of 39 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 22.4% | — |
| 2006 | 22.2% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 22.0% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 21.8% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 21.6% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 21.8% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 21.7% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 21.7% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 21.3% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 21.6% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 21.9% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 22.4% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 22.6% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 22.9% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 23.4% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 24.0% | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 23.5% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 23.1% | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 22.8% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 22.9% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 22.9% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22.0% | 21.6% | 22.4% | 5 |
| 2010s | 22.1% | 21.3% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.2% | 22.8% | 24.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa
More education data for Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 38 - Projected education 23.82 Percentage of population aged 15 years or over (2040)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 39 - Projected youth 0.125 Percentage of population aged 15-29 years (2040)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 39 - Projected youth 18.62 Percentage of population aged 15-29 years (2040)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 39 - Projected youth 81.25 Percentage of population aged 15-29 years (2040)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 39 - Projected youth 13.98 Percentage of population aged 15-29 years (2040)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 39 - Projected youth 44.68 Percentage of population aged 15-29 years (2040)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 39 - Projected youth 41.34 Percentage of population aged 15-29 years (2040)
- Adjusted gender parity index for completion rate, by location, wealth 1.01 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Africa?
- Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Africa was 22.9% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 24.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.3% in 2013.
- How does Africa rank for proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex?
- Africa ranks 11th out of 39 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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