Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex was 34.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
34.8%
Change on year
up 0.2%
Rank
1st
of 39 groups
All-time high
35.1%
in 2022
All-time low
30.9%
in 2015
Years of data
21
2005–2025

Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Southern Africa, 2005–2025

0102030402005201520252005: 34.72006: 33.72007: 332008: 32.82009: 332010: 33.12011: 32.62012: 32.62013: 32.22014: 31.62015: 30.92016: 31.62017: 31.42018: 31.82019: 32.52020: 32.82021: 33.12022: 35.12023: 34.12024: 34.72025: 34.8

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2025, proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Southern Africa stood at 34.8%.

That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 12.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Southern Africa peaked at 35.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 30.9%, in 2015.

Southern Africa ranks 1st of 39 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%) in Southern Africa, 2005 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2005 34.7%
2006 33.7% -2.8%
2007 33.0% -2.2%
2008 32.8% -0.5%
2009 33.0% +0.4%
2010 33.1% +0.4%
2011 32.6% -1.5%
2012 32.6% -0.1%
2013 32.2% -1.1%
2014 31.6% -2.0%
2015 30.9% -2.1%
2016 31.6% +2.3%
2017 31.4% -0.7%
2018 31.8% +1.3%
2019 32.5% +2.3%
2020 32.8% +0.7%
2021 33.1% +1.1%
2022 35.1% +6.1%
2023 34.1% -2.8%
2024 34.7% +1.7%
2025 34.8% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 33.4% 32.8% 34.7% 5
2010s 32.0% 30.9% 33.1% 10
2020s 34.1% 32.8% 35.1% 6

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 1 Vanuatu 47.5% compare
  2. 2 Malawi 39.4% compare
  3. 3 Botswana 38.0% compare
  4. 4 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 37.1% compare

See the full ranking of 168 places →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Southern Africa?
Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Southern Africa was 34.8% 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 Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 35.1% in 2022.
What is the lowest proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 30.9% in 2015.
How does Southern Africa rank for proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex?
Southern Africa ranks 1st out of 39 groups with data for 2025.
Is proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Southern 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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Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-youth-not-in-education-employment-or-training-by-sex-and-age-13th-icls/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
168 places, 2,977 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed