Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Gabon
Gabon: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 20.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Gabon, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Gabon recorded 20.2% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Gabon peaked at 21.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 16.9%, in 2005.
Gabon ranks 6th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Gabon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 17.2% | — |
| 1992 | 17.7% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 17.8% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 17.8% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 17.4% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 17.3% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 17.2% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 17.2% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 17.6% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 17.8% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 17.4% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 17.1% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 17.1% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 16.9% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 18.3% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 19.2% | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 19.8% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 20.4% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 19.9% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 19.7% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 19.7% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 19.9% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 19.9% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 20.1% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 20.3% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 20.5% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 20.4% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 21.3% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 21.2% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 20.3% | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 20.2% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 20.1% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 20.2% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.5% | 17.2% | 17.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 17.9% | 16.9% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.1% | 19.7% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.5% | 20.1% | 21.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gabon
More education data for Gabon
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 215,825 (2019)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 269,687 (2019)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7291 % change on previous year (2003)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2019)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1189 units per person (2019)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 269,687 (2019)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.7291 % change on previous year (2003)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Gabon?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Gabon was 20.2% 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 Gabon?
- The highest recorded value was 21.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Gabon?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.9% in 2005.
- How does Gabon rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Gabon ranks 6th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Gabon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gabon 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.