Unemployment Rate in Kenya decreased to 5.40 percent in 2024 from 5.60 percent in 2023. This dataset provides - Kenya Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Kenya’s unemployment rate was 5.43 percent in 2024. This represents a steady decline from the increase after the financial crisis. What is unemployment? The unemployment rate of a country refers to the share of people who want to work but cannot find jobs. This includes workers who have lost jobs and are searching for new ones, workers whose jobs ended due to an economic downturn, and workers for whom there are no jobs because the labor supply in their industry is larger than the number of jobs available. Different statistics suggest which factors contribute to the overall unemployment rate. The Kenyan context The first type, so-called “search unemployment”, is hardest to see in the data. The closest proxy is Kenya’s inflation rate. As workers take new jobs faster, employers are forced to increase wages, leading to higher employment. Jobs lost due to economic downturns, called “cyclical unemployment”, can be seen by decreases in the GDP growth rate, which are not significant in Kenya. Finally, “structural unemployment” refers to workers changing the industry, or even economic sector, in which they are working. In Kenya, more and more workers switch to the services sector. This is often a result of urbanization, but any structural shift in the economy’s composition can lead to this unemployment.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Kenya (SLUEM1524ZSKEN) from 1991 to 2024 about Kenya, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

The youth unemployment rate in Kenya stood at 11.93 percent in 2024. Between 1991 and 2024, the youth unemployment rate rose by 5.7 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Kenya was reported at 5.434 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force with advanced education) in Kenya was reported at 7.675 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Unemployment with advanced education (% of total unemployment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

The unemployment rate among young people in Kenya varied in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to the previous quarter. In the age group between 20 and 24 years, the rate stood at 15.6 percent, up from 14.2 percent in Q3 2022. Among young people aged 15 to 19 years, the unemployment level dropped to 10.9 percent, after reaching the highest level at 22.7 percent in Q3 2022.

Historical dataset showing Kenya unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

In 2022, the unemployment rate in Kenya decreased from 5.3 percent in the third quarter to 4.9 percent in the fourth quarter. In the second quarter of 2020, unemployment reached its peak at 10.4 percent among the population aged 15-64 years.

Historical dataset showing Kenya youth unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Kenya: Unemployment rate for females: The latest value from 2024 is 7.37 percent, a decline from 7.55 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 8.08 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Kenya from 1991 to 2024 is 3.78 percent. The minimum value, 2.83 percent, was reached in 2007 while the maximum of 7.74 percent was recorded in 2022.

Key information about Kenya Unemployment Rate

• Kenya Unemployment Rate increased to 2.98% in Dec 2020, from the previously reported figure of 2.60% in Dec 2019.
• Kenya Unemployment Rate is updated yearly, available from Dec 1991 to Dec 2020, with an average rate of 2.86%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 2.98% in Dec 2020 and a record low of 2.60% in Dec 2019.
• The data is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, Kenya Population reached 49.40 million people in Dec 2021.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Kenya was reported at 16.7 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - 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 October of 2025.

Kenya KE: Unemployment Rate: YoY data was reported at -42.779 % in Jun 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of -1.778 % for Mar 2021. Kenya KE: Unemployment Rate: YoY data is updated quarterly, averaging -22.649 % from Mar 2020 (Median) to Jun 2021, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of -1.778 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of -42.779 % in Jun 2021. Kenya KE: Unemployment Rate: YoY data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Quarterly.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Kenya was reported at 7.366 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

View yearly updates and historical trends for Kenya Unemployment Rate. Source: World Bank. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Kenya was reported at 17.15 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Kenya KE: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 11.470 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.520 % for 2016. Kenya KE: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 10.481 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.170 % in 2009 and a record low of 10.000 % in 1999. Kenya KE: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Kenya: Youth unemployment, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2024 is 11.93 percent, a decline from 12.01 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 15.70 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Kenya from 1991 to 2024 is 7.98 percent. The minimum value, 6.23 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 13.65 percent was recorded in 2020.

Kenya: Unemployment rate: Pour cet indicateur, La Banque mondiale fournit des données pour la Kenya de 1991 à 2024. La valeur moyenne pour Kenya pendant cette période était de 3.35 pour cent avec un minimum de 2.65 pour cent en 2007 et un maximum de 5.71 pour cent en 2022.