Top 10 African countries with the highest unemployment rate

Unemployment is one of Africa’s biggest challenges, hindering economic growth and social progress. The African Development Bank (AfDB) warns that if things don’t change soon, about 100 million young Africans could be jobless by 2030.

That is a staggering number, and it is no wonder unemployment is the top concern for people aged 18 to 35, according to Afrobarometer, a pan-African research group.

These young people are also worried about how their governments manage the economy, which makes sense. Between 8 and 11 million youth are set to join the job market every year in the coming decades, but only about 3 million formal jobs are created annually. The gap is huge.

Even South Africa, the continent’s most industrialized country, struggles with this issue. It has one of the world’s worst youth unemployment rates, 61% of people aged 15 to 24 can not find jobs.

High unemployment rates in Africa have far-reaching consequences. Economically, it reduces household incomes, limiting consumer spending and stalling economic growth.

Socially, it exacerbates poverty and inequality, often leading to higher crime rates and political instability. Moreover, widespread unemployment among youth fuels migration as many seek better opportunities abroad, resulting in a brain drain that further hampers development.

Statista reports that South Africa holds the highest unemployment rate in Africa at 29.83%, followed by Djibouti at 27.85%. Eswatini takes the third spot with an unemployment rate of 24.65%, showing just how tough the job market is in these countries.