Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda
Uganda: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 2.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda stood at 2.7%.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda peaked at 3.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2005.
Uganda ranks 157th of 187 countries on this measure, 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.4% | — |
| 1992 | 3.6% | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 3.5% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 3.2% | -7.7% |
| 1996 | 3.2% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 3.4% | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 3.5% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 2.7% | -25.0% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | -29.6% |
| 2006 | 2.3% | +19.2% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | +17.8% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | +13.8% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +18.6% |
| 2010 | 3.6% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -46.2% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | +23.4% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | +13.7% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | +12.0% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | +14.2% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 3.8% | +24.9% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | -10.6% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -15.5% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 2.7% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 2.7% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 1.9% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 1.9% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
- 154 Czechia 2.8% compare
- 155 Singapore 2.8% compare
- 156 Hong Kong, China 2.8% compare
- 158 Senegal 2.7% compare
- 159 Republic of Korea 2.7% compare
- 160 Guinea-Bissau 2.7% compare
- 160 Mexico 2.7% compare
More education data for Uganda
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 307,450 (2017)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.03 million (2007)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.84 million (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.13 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.22 units per person (2017)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.84 million (2017)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.13 % change on previous year (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Uganda was 2.7% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2005.
- How does Uganda rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Uganda ranks 157th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.