Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Western Africa
Western Africa: Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex was 18.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Western 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 Western Africa is 18.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Western Africa peaked at 20.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.3%, in 2010.
Western Africa ranks 21st of 39 groups on this measure, 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 Western Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 17.5% | — |
| 2006 | 17.6% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 17.7% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 17.6% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 17.4% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 17.3% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 17.5% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 17.9% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 18.2% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 18.9% | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 19.7% | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 20.2% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 20.0% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 20.0% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 20.1% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 20.4% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 19.5% | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 18.6% | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 18.4% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 18.7% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 18.7% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.6% | 17.4% | 17.7% | 5 |
| 2010s | 19.0% | 17.3% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 18.4% | 20.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Africa
- 18 Melanesia 26.1% compare
- 19 Rwanda 25.9% compare
- 20 Polynesia 25.8% compare
- 21 Dominican Republic 25.7% compare
- 22 Belize 24.9% compare
- 23 New Caledonia 24.7% compare
- 24 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 24.3% compare
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Western Africa?
- Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex in Western Africa was 18.7% 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 Western Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 20.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex recorded in Western Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.3% in 2010.
- How does Western Africa rank for proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex?
- Western Africa ranks 21st out of 39 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of youth not in education, employment or training, by sex rising or falling in Western Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).