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Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) Youth unemployment (15-24) 2026: Interactive Chart & Historical Data

Youth unemployment (15-24) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) stood at 10.08% in 2025, according to World Bank. The latest value is down 0.01 percentage points from 10.09% in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 11.34% (down 1.26 percentage points since). The latest value is the lowest since 1991; the highest was 12.49% in 2020.

Data source: World Bank · Unit: % · Category: Labor and Employment · Explore more indicators on EconDash

Data updated:Last checked:Frequency:AnnualCoverage:1991–2025
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What is Youth unemployment (15-24)?

Youth unemployment (15-24), measured in %, reflects labor market conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 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 Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), 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.

Key facts

What is the latest Youth unemployment (15-24) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?

Youth unemployment (15-24) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) stood at 10.08% in 2025, according to World Bank.

Is Youth unemployment (15-24) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rising or falling?

The latest value is down 0.01 percentage points from 10.09% in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 11.34% (down 1.26 percentage points since).

What is the highest Youth unemployment (15-24) on record in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?

The latest value is the lowest since 1991; the highest was 12.49% in 2020.

Metadata for Youth unemployment (15-24) in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
IndicatorYouth unemployment (15-24)
CountrySub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
CategoryLabor and Employment
Unit%
SourceWorld Bank
Interactive chartView on EconDash
API accessEconDash API documentation

Current rate: 10.08% (2025)

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Cite this chart
APA

World Bank. (2026). Youth unemployment (15-24) — Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/SSA. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS

MLA

World Bank. "Youth unemployment (15-24) — Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/SSA. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS.

Chicago

World Bank. 2026. "Youth unemployment (15-24) — Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/SSA. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS.

BibTeX
@misc{econdash_youth_unemployment_15_24_ssa,
  author = {{World Bank}},
  title = {{Youth unemployment (15-24) --- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)}},
  howpublished = {EconDash},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/SSA},
  note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS}
}