Nigeria: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
In , Nigeria's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 3.06.
That's up 0.6% from 2024, the highest value since .
The global average for this indicator in 2025 was 6.73 . Nigeria ranks #139 globally out of 182 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #31 of 45.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS) • Data as of 2025
Trend (2006–2025)
- 2008 · Global financial crisis
- 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic
Highlights
- Peak
- 5.71
- Trough
- 3.05
- 1-year change
- +0.6%
- 5-year change
- -46.4%
- -11.7% / yr
- 10-year change
- -25.9%
- -3.0% / yr
Historical Data — Last 10 Years
| Year | Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) |
|---|---|
| 3.0640 | |
| 3.0450 | |
| 3.0740 | |
| 3.8270 | |
| 5.4040 | |
| 5.7140 | |
| 5.2060 | |
| 5.0690 | |
| 4.8300 | |
| 4.4990 |
About Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Indicator code: SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS • Category: Labor & Business
Frequently asked questions
- What was Nigeria's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025?
- In 2025, Nigeria's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 3.06, according to World Bank Open Data.
- Is Nigeria's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rising or falling?
- Nigeria's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rose 0.6% from 2024 to 2025.
- How does Nigeria rank globally on Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)?
- In 2025, Nigeria ranked #139 out of 182 countries reporting Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate).
- How does Nigeria's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) compare to the world average?
- The global average for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025 was 6.73, so Nigeria is below the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #31 of 45.
- What is Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) and how is it measured?
- Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.