Unemployment rate in Africa 2023, by country

South Africa registered the highest unemployment rate in Africa in 2023, with around 30 percent of the country's labor force being unemployed. Djibouti and Eswatini followed, with unemployment reaching roughly 28 percent and 25 percent, respectively. On the other hand, Niger and Benin had the lowest unemployment rates in Africa. The continent’s average stood at roughly eight percent in the same year.

Large shares of youth among the unemployed

Due to several educational, socio-demographic, and economic factors, the young population is more likely to face unemployment in most regions of the world. In 2023, the youth unemployment rate in Africa averaged around 12 percent. The situation was particularly critical in certain countries. In 2021, Djibouti recorded a youth unemployment rate of almost 80 percent, the highest rate on the continent. South Africa followed, with around 64 percent of the young labor force being unemployed.

Wide disparities in female unemployment

Women are another demographic group often facing high unemployment. In Africa, the female unemployment rate stood at roughly nine percent in 2022, compared to 7.4 percent among men. The average female unemployment on the continent was not particularly high. However, there were significant disparities among African countries. Djibouti and South Africa topped the ranking once again in 2021, with female unemployment rates of around 39 percent and 36 percent, respectively. In contrast, Niger, Chad, and Burundi were far below Africa’s average, as only roughly one percent of the women in the labor force were unemployed.