Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 8.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 8.1% for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 9.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 2014.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 8th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.1% | — |
| 1992 | 8.2% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 8.2% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 8.1% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 7.9% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 7.9% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 8.0% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 8.1% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 8.1% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 8.1% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 8.0% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 8.0% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 8.0% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 7.9% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 7.7% | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 7.7% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 7.6% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 7.6% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 8.0% | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 7.5% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 7.4% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 7.5% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 7.7% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 7.8% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 7.8% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 8.0% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 8.6% | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 9.2% | +6.9% |
| 2022 | 8.7% | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 8.4% | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 8.3% | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 8.1% | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.1% | 7.9% | 8.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.8% | 7.6% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.7% | 7.4% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.5% | 8.1% | 9.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
More education data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Population ages 0-14 40.0% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 121.03 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1573 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 56.6% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 46.07 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Africa Eastern and Southern was 8.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 2014.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 8th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.