Gambia, The Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Gambia, The's unemployment rate was 6.52% in 2025, ranked 117th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Gambia, The's unemployment rate stood at 6.52% in 2025, a rise of +0.04pp from 2024. Gambia, The ranked 117th globally.
The Gambia’s unemployment rate has fallen markedly over the 35‑year series, descending from a 1991 level of 9.78% to a 2025 figure of 6.52%, which places the country at rank 117 globally and aligns it with peers such as Barbados, which records the same rate, and Italy at 6.39%. The all‑time peak of 10.43% in 2007 gave way to a pronounced trough of 4.05% in 2018, reflecting the impact of structural reforms and modest growth in services and agriculture during the 2010s. While the post‑trough rebound to 6.52% suggests a modest re‑acceleration of joblessness, the downward trajectory since the early 2000s indicates resilience in the labour market. Continued diversification of the economy, improved vocational training and sustained foreign investment could deepen the decline, steering the unemployment rate toward lower levels in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6.52% | +0.04pp | #117 |
| 2024 | 6.48% | +0.00pp | #121 |
| 2023 | 6.48% | +0.41pp | #123 |
| 2022 | 6.07% | −0.15pp | #114 |
| 2021 | 6.21% | +0.37pp | #99 |
| 2020 | 5.84% | +1.36pp | #87 |
| 2019 | 4.48% | +0.43pp | #73 |
| 2018 | 4.06% | −1.04pp | #64 |
| 2017 | 5.10% | −1.15pp | #86 |
| 2016 | 6.24% | −0.98pp | #101 |
| 2015 | 7.23% | −0.97pp | #108 |
| 2014 | 8.19% | −1.26pp | #119 |
| 2013 | 9.45% | −0.89pp | #129 |
| 2012 | 10.35% | +0.07pp | #135 |
| 2011 | 10.28% | +0.60pp | #137 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Gambia, The matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Gambia, The's unemployment rate was 6.52% in 2025. Ranked 117th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from the previous year.
Gambia, The's unemployment rate peaked at 10.43% in 2007.
The lowest unemployment rate in Gambia, The was 4.06% in 2018.
Gambia, The ranks 117th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Gambia, The in 2025 was 6.52%. This ranks 117th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_gambia-the_unemployment-rate,
title = {Gambia, The Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/gambia-the/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}