Youth unemployment (15-24) in Africa Western and Central stood at 5.6% in 2025, according to World Bank. The latest value is up 0.12 percentage points from 5.47% in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 7.77% (down 2.17 percentage points since). The highest value since 1991 was 8.69% in 2020, the lowest 5.47% in 2024.
Data source: World Bank · Unit: % · Category: Labor and Employment · Explore more indicators on EconDash
Youth unemployment (15-24), measured in %, reflects labor market conditions in Africa Western and Central, indicating the balance between available workers and job openings. It serves as a crucial signal of economic health, consumer spending capacity, and social stability. Labor market data typically includes multiple dimensions: unemployment rates, employment-to-population ratios, labor force participation, and wage growth. Each metric captures different aspects of job market dynamics — for example, the unemployment rate counts only those actively seeking work, while the participation rate reveals how many working-age people are engaged in the labor market. In Africa Western and Central, labor statistics are gathered through household surveys, employer reports, and administrative records like unemployment benefit claims. Changes in Youth unemployment (15-24) often precede broader economic shifts: rising unemployment typically signals slowing economic activity, while tightening labor markets may foreshadow wage pressures and inflation.
Youth unemployment (15-24) in Africa Western and Central stood at 5.6% in 2025, according to World Bank.
The latest value is up 0.12 percentage points from 5.47% in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 7.77% (down 2.17 percentage points since).
The highest value since 1991 was 8.69% in 2020, the lowest 5.47% in 2024.
| Indicator | Youth unemployment (15-24) |
|---|---|
| Country | Africa Western and Central |
| Category | Labor and Employment |
| Unit | % |
| Source | World Bank |
| Interactive chart | View on EconDash |
| API access | EconDash API documentation |
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World Bank. (2026). Youth unemployment (15-24) — Africa Western and Central [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/AFW. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS
World Bank. "Youth unemployment (15-24) — Africa Western and Central." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/AFW. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS.
World Bank. 2026. "Youth unemployment (15-24) — Africa Western and Central." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/AFW. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS.
@misc{econdash_youth_unemployment_15_24_afw,
author = {{World Bank}},
title = {{Youth unemployment (15-24) --- Africa Western and Central}},
howpublished = {EconDash},
year = {2026},
url = {https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/AFW},
note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS}
}Browse indicators available for Africa Western and Central. Click any indicator to view its interactive chart, compare with other countries, and download historical data.
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