Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Africa Western and Central, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 3.2% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 23.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Africa Western and Central peaked at 4.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 2024.
That places Africa Western and Central 47th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.2% | — |
| 1992 | 4.2% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 4.4% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 4.3% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 4.5% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 4.5% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 4.1% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 4.1% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 4.0% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 3.9% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 4.2% | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 4.8% | +9.2% |
| 2021 | 4.7% | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | -23.0% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | -10.9% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 3.2% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.2% | 3.9% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 3.2% | 4.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More education data for Africa Western and Central
- Population ages 0-14 40.9% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 75.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 35.36 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9058 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 56.1% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.08 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1455 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Africa Western and Central?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Africa Western and Central was 3.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 4.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 2024.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 47th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total 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.