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.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

Nigeria Google Search Trends: Government Measures: Unemployment Benefits data was reported at 1.000 Score in 14 May 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.000 Score for 13 May 2025. Nigeria Google Search Trends: Government Measures: Unemployment Benefits data is updated daily, averaging 0.000 Score from Dec 2021 (Median) to 14 May 2025, with 1261 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.000 Score in 24 Jan 2022 and a record low of 0.000 Score in 10 May 2025. Nigeria Google Search Trends: Government Measures: Unemployment Benefits data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Google Trends. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.Google.GT: Google Search Trends: by Categories.

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.

Nigeria Google Search Trends: Economic Measures: Unemployment data was reported at 17.000 Score in 14 May 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.000 Score for 13 May 2025. Nigeria Google Search Trends: Economic Measures: Unemployment data is updated daily, averaging 20.000 Score from Dec 2021 (Median) to 14 May 2025, with 1261 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 68.000 Score in 03 Dec 2022 and a record low of 0.000 Score in 01 May 2025. Nigeria Google Search Trends: Economic Measures: Unemployment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Google Trends. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.Google.GT: Google Search Trends: by Categories.

South Africa is expected to register the highest unemployment rate in Africa in 2024, with around 30 percent of the country's labor force being unemployed. Djibouti and Eswatini followed, with unemployment reaching roughly 28 percent and 25 percent, respectively. On the other hand, the lowest unemployment rates in Africa were in Niger and Burundi. The continent’s average stood at roughly seven percent in the same year.

Large shares of youth among the unemployed

Due to several educational, socio-demographic, and economic factors, the young population is more likely to face unemployment in most regions of the world. In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in Africa was projected at around 11 percent. The situation was particularly critical in certain countries. In 2022, Djibouti recorded a youth unemployment rate of almost 80 percent, the highest rate on the continent. South Africa followed, with around 52 percent of the young labor force being unemployed.

Wide disparities in female unemployment

Women are another demographic group often facing high unemployment. In Africa, the female unemployment rate stood at roughly eight percent in 2023, compared to 6.6 percent among men. The average female unemployment on the continent was not particularly high. However, there were significant disparities among African countries. Djibouti and South Africa topped the ranking once again in 2022, with female unemployment rates of around 38 percent and 31 percent, respectively. In contrast, Niger, Burundi, and Chad were far below Africa’s average, as only roughly one percent or lower of the women in the labor force were unemployed.

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.

Nigeria’s inflation has been higher than the average for African and Sub-Saharan countries for years now, and even exceeded 16 percent in 2017 – and a real, significant decrease is nowhere in sight. The bigger problem is its unsteadiness, however: An inflation rate that is bouncing all over the place, like this one, is usually a sign of a struggling economy, causing prices to fluctuate, and unemployment and poverty to increase. Nigeria’s economy - a so-called “mixed economy”, which means the market economy is at least in part regulated by the state – is not entirely in bad shape, though. More than half of its GDP is generated by the services sector, namely telecommunications and finances, and the country derives a significant share of its state revenues from oil.

Because it got high

To simplify: When the inflation rate rises, so do prices, and consequently banks raise their interest rates as well to cope and maintain their profit margin. Higher interest rates often cause unemployment to rise. In certain scenarios, rising prices can also mean more panicky spending and consumption among end users, causing debt and poverty. The extreme version of this is called hyperinflation: A rapid increase of prices that is out of control and leads to bankruptcies en masse, devaluation of money and subsequently a currency reform, among other things. But does that mean that low inflation is better? Maybe, but only to a certain degree; the ECB, for example, aspires to maintain an inflation rate of about two percent so as to keep the economy stable. As soon as we reach deflation territory, however, things are starting to look grim again. The best course is a stable inflation rate, to avoid uncertainty and rash actions.

Nigeria today

Nigeria is one of the countries with the largest populations worldwide and also the largest economy in Africa, with its economy growing rapidly after a slump in the aforementioned year 2017. It is slated to be one of the countries with the highest economic growth over the next few decades. Demographic key indicators, like infant mortality rate, fertility rate, and the median age of the population, all point towards a bright future. Additionally, the country seems to make big leaps forward in manufacturing and technological developments, and boasts huge natural resources, including natural gas. All in all, Nigeria and its inflation seem to be on the upswing – or on the path to stabilization, as it were.

Unemployment with advanced education, male (% of male labor force with advanced education) in Nigeria was reported at 4.465 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment with advanced education, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Unemployment with intermediate education, female (% of female labor force with intermediate education) in Nigeria was reported at 4.427 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment with intermediate education, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Unemployment with basic education, female (% of female labor force with basic education) in Nigeria was reported at 3.305 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment with basic education, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Unemployment with intermediate education, male (% of male labor force with intermediate education) in Nigeria was reported at 2.204 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment with intermediate education, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

As of July 2024, Nigeria's population was estimated at around 229.5 million. Between 1965 and 2024, the number of people living in Nigeria increased at an average rate of over two percent. In 2024, the population grew by 2.42 percent compared to the previous year. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. By extension, the African continent records the highest growth rate in the world. Africa's most populous country Nigeria was the most populous country in Africa as of 2023. As of 2022, Lagos held the distinction of being Nigeria's biggest urban center, a status it also retained as the largest city across all of sub-Saharan Africa. The city boasted an excess of 17.5 million residents. Notably, Lagos assumed the pivotal roles of the nation's primary financial hub, cultural epicenter, and educational nucleus. Furthermore, Lagos was one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. Nigeria's youthful population In Nigeria, a significant 50 percent of the populace is under the age of 19. The most prominent age bracket is constituted by those up to four years old: comprising 8.3 percent of men and eight percent of women as of 2021. Nigeria boasts one of the world's most youthful populations. On a broader scale, both within Africa and internationally, Niger maintains the lowest median age record. Nigeria secures the 20th position in global rankings. Furthermore, the life expectancy in Nigeria is an average of 62 years old. However, this is different between men and women. The main causes of death have been neonatal disorders, malaria, and diarrheal diseases.

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.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) in Nigeria was reported at 4.073 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Nigeria - Unemployment, female (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.