In Africa, like the rest of the world, the younger population is at a higher risk of unemployment in many regions globally. In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in Africa is projected at around 11 per cent, according to Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform with an extensive collection of statistics, reports, and insights.

Despite the implementation of several initiatives by African governments to combat the issue, their impact has been limited amidst a ballooning population. The severity of the problem led African leaders to adopt a seven-point declaration in Dar es Salaam last year to tackle unemployment.

There are also peculiarities, men find it easier to secure jobs compared to women, even when they possess similar skills and experience. In Africa, the female unemployment rate was eight per cent in 2023, while it was 6.6 per cent among men.

Africa's unemployment problem is hitting both big and small economies. As of today, South Africa hit an unemployment rate of 32.1%, making it the country with the highest unemployment rate on the continent in 2024.

Djibouti and Eswatini follow closely, with unemployment rates reaching approximately 28 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively.

Below are 10 African countries with the highest unemployment rate in 2024:

Rank    Country         Unemployment rate
1          South Africa    32.1%
2          Djibouti           27.9%
3          Eswatini           24.65%
4          Gabon             21.35%
5          Congo             21.3%
6          Botswana        20.72%
7          Somalia           20.53%
8          Namibia          20.37%
9          Libya               20.07%
10        Sudan             18.05%