Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Sudan
South Sudan: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 12.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Sudan, 1991–2023
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Sudan is 12.4%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Sudan peaked at 14.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12.1%, in 1997.
South Sudan ranks 23rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 12.3% | — |
| 1992 | 12.4% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 12.2% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 12.3% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 12.3% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 12.3% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 12.1% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 12.1% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 12.1% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 12.3% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 12.3% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 12.2% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 12.2% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 12.3% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 12.3% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 12.3% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 12.3% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 12.3% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 12.4% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 12.5% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 12.6% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 12.8% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 12.7% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 12.6% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 12.5% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 12.9% | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 13.0% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 12.9% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 12.7% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 14.2% | +12.6% |
| 2021 | 13.9% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 12.5% | -10.6% |
| 2023 | 12.4% | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.2% | 12.1% | 12.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 12.2% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 12.5% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.3% | 12.4% | 14.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 20 Syrian Arab Republic 13.6% compare
- 21 Afghanistan 13.4% compare
- 22 Armenia 12.9% compare
- 24 North Macedonia 12.3% compare
- 25 Georgia 12.1% compare
- 26 Guyana 12.0% compare
More education data for South Sudan
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0497 % change on previous year (2014)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,021 tertiary education (2022)
- Duration of pre-primary education 3 years (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.0% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 58.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Sudan?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Sudan was 12.4% in 2023, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 14.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.1% in 1997.
- How does South Sudan rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- South Sudan ranks 23rd out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Sudan 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.