Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Rwanda
Rwanda: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 12.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Rwanda, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 12.8% for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in 2025.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Rwanda peaked at 17.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.4%, in 2018.
That places Rwanda 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 13.2% | — |
| 1992 | 13.0% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 13.0% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 13.1% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 12.8% | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 12.3% | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 11.9% | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 12.0% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 12.4% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 12.5% | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 12.5% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 12.2% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 12.4% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 12.5% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 12.6% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 12.4% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 12.3% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 12.3% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 12.4% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 12.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 12.5% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 12.4% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 12.5% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 12.6% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 12.6% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 12.6% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 12.6% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 11.4% | -10.2% |
| 2019 | 12.1% | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 12.9% | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 17.4% | +35.2% |
| 2022 | 16.6% | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 14.4% | -13.5% |
| 2024 | 13.3% | -7.5% |
| 2025 | 12.8% | -3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.6% | 11.9% | 13.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.4% | 12.2% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 11.4% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 12.8% | 17.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 30 Belize 13.5% compare
- 31 Guyana 13.4% compare
- 32 Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.3% compare
- 34 French Polynesia 12.5% compare
- 35 United States Virgin Islands 12.2% compare
- 36 New Caledonia 12.1% compare
More education data for Rwanda
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34,324 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 795,920 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 305,636 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 299,593 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 901,617 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.01 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.93 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2109 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Rwanda?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Rwanda was 12.8% 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 17.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.4% in 2018.
- How does Rwanda rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Rwanda ranks 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.