Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 2.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Burkina Faso, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Burkina Faso is 2.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.9% on the previous year and down 36.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Burkina Faso peaked at 4.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 1997.
Burkina Faso ranks 143rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.3% | — |
| 1992 | 2.4% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 2.3% | -3.3% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 2.3% | -3.7% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 2.4% | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 2.6% | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 3.0% | +23.8% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | +13.4% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | -9.2% |
| 2007 | 2.8% | -11.1% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | +6.6% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 4.6% | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 4.7% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 3.3% | -21.3% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | -11.3% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | -11.0% |
| 2025 | 2.8% | +7.9% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 2.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.2%, 67% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 2.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.3%, 53% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | 2.5% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 3.4% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 2.6% | 4.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More education data for Burkina Faso
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,557 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 105,439 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 78,072 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 75,598 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.2 % 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 0.1303 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Burkina Faso?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Burkina Faso was 2.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 4.7% in 2018.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 1997.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Burkina Faso ranks 143rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Burkina Faso data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male 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.