Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Somalia
Somalia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 18.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
18.9%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
9th
of 187 countries
All-time high
20.0%
in 1994
All-time low
18.5%
in 2017
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Somalia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Somalia stood at 18.9%.
The figure is up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Somalia peaked at 20.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 18.5%, in 2017.
Somalia ranks 9th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.0% | — |
| 1992 | 19.4% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 19.3% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 20.0% | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 19.6% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 19.5% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 18.9% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 18.8% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 18.8% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 18.7% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 18.7% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 18.7% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 18.6% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 18.7% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 18.7% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 18.7% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 18.7% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 18.7% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 18.7% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 18.7% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 18.8% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 18.8% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 18.7% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 18.6% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 18.5% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 18.6% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 18.5% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 18.7% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 18.8% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 19.4% | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 19.7% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 19.1% | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 19.0% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 18.9% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 18.9% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.3% | 18.8% | 20.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.7% | 18.6% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.7% | 18.5% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.2% | 18.9% | 19.7% | 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, total (% of total labor force) in Somalia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Somalia was 18.9% 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.0% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.5% in 2017.
- How does Somalia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Somalia ranks 9th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. 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, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.