Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Somalia
Somalia: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 16.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
16.4%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
9th
of 187 countries
All-time high
17.2%
in 1994
All-time low
16.0%
in 2017
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Somalia, 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 Somalia is 16.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Somalia peaked at 17.2% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 16.0%, in 2017.
Somalia ranks 9th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 16.4% | — |
| 1992 | 16.7% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 16.7% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 17.2% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 16.9% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 16.8% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 16.3% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 16.3% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 16.3% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 16.2% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 16.2% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 16.2% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 16.2% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 16.2% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 16.2% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 16.3% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 16.3% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 16.3% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 16.3% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 16.3% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 16.3% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 16.3% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 16.2% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 16.1% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 16.0% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 16.1% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 16.0% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 16.2% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 16.3% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 16.9% | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 17.1% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 16.6% | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 16.4% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 16.4% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 16.4% | +0.1% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 16.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.2%, 3.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 16.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.3%, 3.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.6% | 16.3% | 17.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.2% | 16.2% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 16.0% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.6% | 16.4% | 17.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More education data for Somalia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4,504 (2007)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 676 (1986)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 882 (1986)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 115,828 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 464,607 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -7.59 % change on previous year (1986)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0253 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Somalia?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Somalia was 16.4% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 17.2% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.0% in 2017.
- How does Somalia rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Somalia ranks 9th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Somalia 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.