Uganda Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Uganda's youth unemployment was 4.18% in 2025, ranked 21st globally. This represents a 0.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Uganda's youth unemployment stood at 4.18% in 2025, a decline of +0.03pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 3.84% by 2026. Uganda ranked 21st globally.
Uganda’s youth unemployment rate stood at 4.18 % in 2025, placing the country 21st in the world and slightly above the 4.01 % recorded for Côte d’Ivoire, a peer with a comparable ranking. Over the 35‑year series, the indicator fell from a high of 5.69 % in 2020 – the all‑time peak – to a low of 2.59 % in 2013, the trough, before rising again to its current level. The post‑peak increase reflects a combination of demographic pressure, with a rapidly expanding labor‑age population, and limited absorption capacity in formal sectors, while the earlier decline coincided with expanded vocational training programmes and modest growth in agricultural employment. Compared with Moldova’s 4.20 % and Japan’s 3.90 % in the same year, Uganda’s figure suggests a modestly higher burden on young workers. Continued investment in skills development and diversification of the economy could reverse the recent upward drift and steer the rate toward the lower levels observed in the early 2010s.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 3.48% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 3.66% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 3.84% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.18% | −0.03pp | #21 |
| 2024 | 4.21% | +0.00pp | #20 |
| 2023 | 4.21% | −0.13pp | #21 |
| 2022 | 4.34% | −0.71pp | #21 |
| 2021 | 5.04% | −0.65pp | #24 |
| 2020 | 5.69% | +1.00pp | #24 |
| 2019 | 4.69% | −0.19pp | #26 |
| 2018 | 4.88% | −0.17pp | #24 |
| 2017 | 5.05% | +0.64pp | #21 |
| 2016 | 4.41% | +0.54pp | #19 |
| 2015 | 3.87% | +0.55pp | #17 |
| 2014 | 3.32% | +0.73pp | #13 |
| 2013 | 2.59% | −2.68pp | #11 |
| 2012 | 5.28% | +0.18pp | #24 |
| 2011 | 5.10% | −0.26pp | #23 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Uganda matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2011. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Uganda's youth unemployment was 4.18% in 2025. Ranked 21st globally. This represents a 0.7% decrease from the previous year.
Uganda's youth unemployment peaked at 5.69% in 2020.
The lowest youth unemployment in Uganda was 2.59% in 2013.
Uganda ranks 21st globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Uganda's youth unemployment is projected to reach 3.84% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Uganda in 2025 was 4.18%. This ranks 21st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_uganda_youth-unemployment,
title = {Uganda Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/uganda/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}