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Countries in Africa Ranked by Youth unemployment rate (2025)

Youth unemployment rate: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).

Summary

Djibouti ranks #1 with 76.8% of labour force aged 15-24. South Africa is second with 59.9% of labour force aged 15-24, 28.1% behind. The top five are Djibouti, South Africa, Eswatini, Libya and Botswana. The median across all 53 is 10.5% of labour force aged 15-24; Niger is last at 0.457% of labour force aged 15-24. Djibouti's figure has risen 17% since 2001 (65.6% of labour force aged 15-24 to 76.8% of labour force aged 15-24 in 2025).

#1
Djibouti · 76.8% of labour force aged 15-24
Median
10.5% of labour force aged 15-24
Coverage
53 countries in Africa
Data year
2025
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Youth unemployment rateBar chart of the top 10: 1. Djibouti 76.8; 2. South Africa 59.9; 3. Eswatini 54.3; 4. Libya 50.1; 5. Botswana 46; 6. Congo, Rep. 40.5; 7. Tunisia 38.1; 8. Namibia 38.1; 9. Gabon 36.3; 10. Somalia, Fed. Rep. 34.2.Djibouti76.8South Africa59.9Eswatini54.3Libya50.1Botswana46Congo, Rep.40.5Tunisia38.1Namibia38.1Gabon36.3Somalia, Fed. Rep.34.2
Top 10: Youth unemployment rate (% of labour force aged 15-24). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Djibouti 76.8; 2. South Africa 59.9; 3. Eswatini 54.3; 4. Libya 50.1; 5. Botswana 46; 6. Congo, Rep. 40.5; 7. Tunisia 38.1; 8. Namibia 38.1; 9. Gabon 36.3; 10. Somalia, Fed. Rep. 34.2.
Youth unemployment rate over time, top 5Djibouti: 65.6 in 2001 to 76.8 in 2025; South Africa: 43.2 in 2001 to 59.9 in 2025; Eswatini: 50.3 in 2001 to 54.3 in 2025; Libya: 46.7 in 2001 to 50.1 in 2025; Botswana: 39.2 in 2001 to 46 in 2025.020.540.961.481.9200120132025DjiboutiSouth AfricaEswatiniLibyaBotswana
Youth unemployment rate over time, top 5 (% of labour force aged 15-24). Djibouti: 65.6 in 2001 to 76.8 in 2025; South Africa: 43.2 in 2001 to 59.9 in 2025; Eswatini: 50.3 in 2001 to 54.3 in 2025; Libya: 46.7 in 2001 to 50.1 in 2025; Botswana: 39.2 in 2001 to 46 in 2025.

Full ranking

Countries in Africa Ranked by Youth unemployment rate, 2025
RankCountryYouth unemployment rate (% of labour force aged 15-24)Year
1Djibouti76.82025
2South Africa59.92025
3Eswatini54.32025
4Libya50.12025
5Botswana462025
6Congo, Rep.40.52025
7Tunisia38.12025
8Namibia38.12025
9Gabon36.32025
10Somalia, Fed. Rep.34.22025
11Algeria29.42025
12Cabo Verde28.42025
13Angola27.22025
14Lesotho24.72025
15Mauritania22.92025
16Morocco21.92025
17South Sudan18.52023
18Egypt, Arab Rep.18.32025
19Mauritius17.42025
20Rwanda16.42025
21Equatorial Guinea15.72025
22Zimbabwe15.52025
23Kenya15.22025
24Sudan122022
25Mozambique11.62025
26Gambia, The10.92025
27Zambia10.52025
28Eritrea10.22025
29Central African Republic10.12025
30São Tomé and Principe8.792025
31Comoros8.752025
32Congo, Dem. Rep.7.852025
33Guinea7.022025
34Malawi6.952025
35Cameroon6.552025
36Burkina Faso6.442025
37Ghana5.832025
38Ethiopia5.352025
39Nigeria5.342025
40Madagascar5.252025
41Uganda4.182025
42Côte d'Ivoire4.012025
43Mali3.882025
44Sierra Leone3.722025
45Senegal3.622025
46Togo3.442025
47Benin2.892025
48Guinea-Bissau2.842025
49Tanzania2.382025
50Liberia2.32025
51Burundi1.682025
52Chad1.462025
53Niger0.4572025

About the top 10

#2 South Africa

South Africa ranks #2 on this list with 59.9% of labour force aged 15-24.

Capital
Pretoria, Cape Town
Continent
Africa
Income group
Upper middle income
Population
64.75 million people (2025)
GDP
US$427.18 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$6,598 (2025)
Life expectancy
66.3 years (2024)
Urban population
63.8% of population (2025)

Largest cities: City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Johannesburg, Cape Town.

Also ranks #2 in unemployment rate · #2 in youth unemployment rate · #2 in income share of richest 10%.

Full country profile

#10 Somalia, Fed. Rep.

Somalia, Fed. Rep. ranks #10 on this list with 34.2% of labour force aged 15-24.

Capital
Mogadishu
Continent
Africa
Income group
Low income
Population
19.66 million people (2025)
GDP
US$13 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$661.2 (2025)
Life expectancy
59 years (2024)
Urban population
55.1% of population (2025)

Largest cities: North East State of Somalia, Mogadishu.

Also ranks #1 in prevalence of undernourishment · #2 in population ages 0-14 share · #2 in age dependency ratio (young).

Full country profile

Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.

Related rankings

Source and method

Youth unemployment rate: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest.

Source: The World Bank, indicator SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.

The World Bank: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate): ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO) (via World Development Indicators)

Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.