Unemployment Rate in Nigeria decreased to 4.30 percent in the second quarter of 2024 from 5.30 percent in the first quarter of 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Nigeria Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Nigeria unemployment rate for 2023 was 3.07%, a 0.75% decline from 2022.

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<li>Nigeria unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>3.83%</strong>, a <strong>1.57% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Nigeria unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>5.39%</strong>, a <strong>0.32% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Nigeria unemployment rate for 2020 was <strong>5.71%</strong>, a <strong>0.51% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Nigeria (SLUEM1524ZSNGA) from 1991 to 2024 about Nigeria, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

As of 2023, the total unemployed population in Nigeria was estimated at around 2.3 million. This increased from the preceding year, when around 2.9 million people were not in any form of employment. In 2019, a peak of over 7.8 million people was achieved, considering the period observed. Overall, the rate of unemployment in the country has been following an positive trend in recent years.

Stopa bezrobocia wśród młodzieży w Nigerii spadła do 6,50 procent w drugim kwartale 2024 roku z 8,40 procent w pierwszym kwartale 2024 roku. Aktualne wartości, dane historyczne, prognozy, statystyki, wykresy i kalendarz ekonomiczny - Nigeria - Stopa Bezrobocia Młodzieży.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Nigeria was reported at 4 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The unemployment rate in Nigeria decreased to 2.99 percent compared to the previous year. Therefore, 2024 marks the lowest unemployment rate during the observed period. The unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed, those aged under 15 years, or retired persons.Find more key insights for the unemployment rate in countries like Niger and Benin.

Nigeria youth unemployment rate for 2023 was 5.84%, a 0.97% decline from 2022.

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<li>Nigeria youth unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>6.81%</strong>, a <strong>3.19% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Nigeria youth unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>10.00%</strong>, a <strong>2.54% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Nigeria youth unemployment rate for 2020 was <strong>12.55%</strong>, a <strong>0.04% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Nigeria was reported at 5.183 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In 2023, the estimated youth unemployment rate in Nigeria was at almost 5.13 percent. According to the source, the data are estimates from the International Labour Organization, an agency of the United Nations developing policies to set labor standards. Employment in Nigeria The youth unemployment rate refers to the percentage of the unemployed in the age group of 15 to 24 years as compared to the total labor force. Youth unemployment rates are often higher than overall unemployment rates, which is true in Nigeria as well: the general rate of unemployment was approximately six percent in 2018. One reason for this contrast is that many of the youth under age 24 are studying full-time and are unavailable for work due to this. Education in Nigeria Nigeria’s population has a large percentage of young inhabitants, and there is a high demand for educational opportunities for its young populace. After severe cuts in governmental aid following a nationwide recession in 2016, Nigeria’s underfunded higher education system became the focus of ongoing student protests and strikes. Other families have taken a different approach: Nigeria is the top country of origin for international students from the continent of Africa. For example, Nigeria sent over 12,600 students to the U.S. in 2017/18, the most of any African country.

Unemployment rate of Nigeria rocketed by 29.21% from 17.5 % in 2017 to 22.6 % in 2018. Since the 21.24% drop in 2014, unemployment rate shot up by 187.74% in 2018. Unemployment rate can be defined by either the national definition, the ILO harmonized definition, or the OECD harmonized definition. The OECD harmonized unemployment rate gives the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labor force (the total number of people employed plus unemployed). [OECD Main Economic Indicators, OECD, monthly] As defined by the International Labour Organization, "unemployed workers" are those who are currently not working but are willing and able to work for pay, currently available to work, and have actively searched for work. [ILO, http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/stat/res/index.htm]

Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force with advanced education) in Nigeria was reported at 6.168 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment with advanced education (% of total unemployment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Nigeria was reported at 2.077 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment, male (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Nigeria Unemployment Rate: Female data was reported at 5.100 % in Jun 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.200 % for Mar 2024. Nigeria Unemployment Rate: Female data is updated quarterly, averaging 6.000 % from Dec 2022 (Median) to Jun 2024, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.600 % in Dec 2022 and a record low of 5.000 % in Jun 2023. Nigeria Unemployment Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.G003: Unemployment Rate: New Methodology.

In 2022, the unemployment rate in Nigeria is estimated to reach 33 percent. This figure was projected to at 32.5 percent in the preceding year.

Chronological data show that the unemployment rate in Nigeria rose constantly in the past years. In the fourth quarter of 2020, over 33 percent of the labor force was unemployed, according to the Nigerian methodology.

Nigeria NG: Unemployment with Advance Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data was reported at 13.689 % in 2016. Nigeria NG: Unemployment with Advance Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 13.689 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. Nigeria NG: Unemployment with Advance Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an advanced level of education who are unemployed. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2018.; Weighted average;

Nigeria Unemployment Rate: ILO: 25 to 34 Years data was reported at 9.834 % in Sep 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.426 % for Jun 2017. Nigeria Unemployment Rate: ILO: 25 to 34 Years data is updated quarterly, averaging 7.100 % from Mar 2014 (Median) to Sep 2017, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.834 % in Sep 2017 and a record low of 2.354 % in Dec 2014. Nigeria Unemployment Rate: ILO: 25 to 34 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.G003: Unemployment Rate: New Methodology.

In the fourth of 2020, the unemployment rate in Nigeria reached 33.28 percent. Between 2015 and 2020, the unemployment rate grew. In particular, in 2017 the unemployment rate registered the fastest growth, increasing by about six percentage points during the year. However, this data were calculated according to the Nigerian methodology. Based on the most common international methodology, the unemployment rate in Nigeria stood at 17.5 percent. The NEW Nigeria methodology defines as unemployed labor force who did not work at all or worked for less than 20 hours a week. The international definition, instead, include people aged 15 years to 64 years old who were available for work, actively seeking work, but were unable to find work.

Unemployment with advanced education, female (% of female labor force with advanced education) in Nigeria was reported at 9.299 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment with advanced education, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Nigeria was reported at 2.989 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.