Guinea-Bissau Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Guinea-Bissau's youth unemployment was 2.84% in 2025, ranked 10th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Guinea-Bissau's youth unemployment stood at 2.84% in 2025, a rise of +0.02pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.79% by 2026. Guinea-Bissau ranked 10th globally.
Guinea‑Bissau’s youth unemployment rate has fallen to 2.84 % in 2025, placing the country tenth in the world according to the World Bank. This figure follows a long‑term decline from an all‑time peak of 3.98 % in 2000 and a trough of 2.06 % in 2019, indicating a gradual improvement over the 35‑year series. The recent level is slightly higher than that of the Solomon Islands (2.76 %) and Benin (2.89 %), but lower than Togo’s 3.44 % and comparable to Lao PDR’s 2.38 %. The downward trajectory reflects modest gains in labor‑market entry for young people, likely driven by incremental reforms in vocational training and small‑scale entrepreneurship support. Continued investment in education‑to‑employment pathways and the expansion of formal sector jobs will be crucial to sustain the decline and push the rate below the current regional peers in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 2.75% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 2.77% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 2.79% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.84% | +0.02pp | #10 |
| 2024 | 2.83% | +0.01pp | #9 |
| 2023 | 2.82% | −0.02pp | #9 |
| 2022 | 2.84% | −0.11pp | #9 |
| 2021 | 2.94% | +0.21pp | #10 |
| 2020 | 2.73% | +0.67pp | #7 |
| 2019 | 2.06% | −1.81pp | #8 |
| 2018 | 3.87% | +0.03pp | #16 |
| 2017 | 3.84% | −0.03pp | #13 |
| 2016 | 3.87% | −0.02pp | #17 |
| 2015 | 3.88% | −0.08pp | #18 |
| 2014 | 3.96% | +0.08pp | #19 |
| 2013 | 3.88% | +0.03pp | #16 |
| 2012 | 3.85% | +0.05pp | #16 |
| 2011 | 3.80% | −0.03pp | #17 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guinea-Bissau matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Guinea-Bissau's youth unemployment was 2.84% in 2025. Ranked 10th globally. This represents a 0.6% increase from the previous year.
Guinea-Bissau's youth unemployment peaked at 3.98% in 2000.
The lowest youth unemployment in Guinea-Bissau was 2.06% in 2019.
Guinea-Bissau ranks 10th globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Guinea-Bissau's youth unemployment is projected to reach 2.79% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Guinea-Bissau in 2025 was 2.84%. This ranks 10th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guinea-bissau_youth-unemployment,
title = {Guinea-Bissau Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guinea-bissau/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}