Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Congo
Congo: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 19.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
19.9%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
7th
of 186 countries
All-time high
22.3%
in 2020
All-time low
19.3%
in 2010
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Congo, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Congo is 19.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Congo peaked at 22.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 19.3%, in 2010.
Congo ranks 7th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.9% | — |
| 1992 | 19.9% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 20.0% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 20.3% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 20.2% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 20.0% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 19.9% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 19.9% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 20.1% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 19.9% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 19.9% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 19.6% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 19.9% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 19.9% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 19.8% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 19.6% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 19.9% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 20.0% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 19.8% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 19.3% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 19.4% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 19.5% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 19.8% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 19.7% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 20.0% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 20.3% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 20.7% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 20.8% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 20.5% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 22.3% | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 22.0% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 20.1% | -8.5% |
| 2023 | 19.9% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 19.9% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 19.9% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.0% | 19.9% | 20.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.8% | 19.6% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.0% | 19.3% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.7% | 19.9% | 22.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More education data for Congo
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 339,250 (2012)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 15.29 % change on previous year (2004)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 23,019 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 7.05 % change on previous year (2012)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 156,821 (2012)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 29.66 % change on previous year (2004)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 182,429 (2012)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -6.93 % change on previous year (1990)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25,723 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 19.07 % change on previous year (2012)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Congo?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Congo was 19.9% 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 22.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.3% in 2010.
- How does Congo rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Congo ranks 7th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Congo 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.