Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kenya
Kenya: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 5.6% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kenya, 1999–2021
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 5.6% for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in 2021.
That represents a change of up 11.4% on the previous year and down 41.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kenya peaked at 10.0% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 2016.
That places Kenya 88th out of 185 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 10.0% | — |
| 2005 | 10.0% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 9.6% | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 2.8% | -71.3% |
| 2019 | 5.0% | +81.9% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | +11.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 5.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 5.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.0% | 10.0% | 10.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 9.8% | 9.6% | 10.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 2.8% | 5.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kenya?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kenya was 5.6% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 10.0% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 2016.
- How does Kenya rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Kenya ranks 88th out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.