Gabon Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Gabon's youth unemployment was 36.28% in 2025, ranked 169th globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Gabon's youth unemployment stood at 36.28% in 2025, a decline of +0.00pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 35.49% by 2026. Gabon ranked 169th globally.
Gabon's youth unemployment rate stood at 36.28 % in 2025, placing the country 169th in the global ranking and situating it between French Polynesia’s 36.57 % and Haiti’s 37.52 % among its closest peers. The indicator has been tracked for 35 years, descending from a 1991 level of 41.56 % to an all‑time trough of 32.22 % in 2005, before climbing to an all‑time peak of 42.48 % in 1993. The post‑trough decline suggests that policy interventions in the early 2000s, such as vocational training programmes and modest private‑sector incentives, were temporarily effective, yet the subsequent rise indicates persistent structural constraints, including limited diversification of the labour market and a reliance on extractive industries. As the economy seeks to expand digital and green‑technology sectors, further reductions in youth unemployment will depend on sustained investment in skill development and the creation of entry‑level jobs, which could reverse the recent upward trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 34.63% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 35.06% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 35.49% | - | - |
| 2025 | 36.28% | −0.00pp | #169 |
| 2024 | 36.28% | −0.12pp | #169 |
| 2023 | 36.41% | −0.23pp | #173 |
| 2022 | 36.64% | −1.60pp | #174 |
| 2021 | 38.24% | −1.46pp | #172 |
| 2020 | 39.70% | +2.99pp | #171 |
| 2019 | 36.71% | −0.09pp | #176 |
| 2018 | 36.80% | +0.27pp | #172 |
| 2017 | 36.53% | +0.34pp | #172 |
| 2016 | 36.19% | +0.33pp | #171 |
| 2015 | 35.86% | +0.20pp | #167 |
| 2014 | 35.66% | +0.31pp | #162 |
| 2013 | 35.35% | +0.23pp | #162 |
| 2012 | 35.12% | −0.22pp | #165 |
| 2011 | 35.34% | −0.60pp | #164 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Gabon matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2013. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Gabon's youth unemployment was 36.28% in 2025. Ranked 169th globally. This represents a 0.0% decrease from the previous year.
Gabon's youth unemployment peaked at 42.48% in 1993.
The lowest youth unemployment in Gabon was 32.22% in 2005.
Gabon ranks 169th globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Gabon's youth unemployment is projected to reach 35.49% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Gabon in 2025 was 36.28%. This ranks 169th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_gabon_youth-unemployment,
title = {Gabon Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/gabon/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}