Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Nigeria
Nigeria: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 3.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Nigeria, 1983–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 3.5% for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in 2024.
The figure is up 12.4% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Nigeria peaked at 8.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1983.
That places Nigeria 134th out of 185 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.1% | 3.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 3.7% | 8.4% | 7 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.3216 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.3105 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.8 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.4187 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.76 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 860.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Nigeria?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Nigeria was 3.5% in 2024, 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 8.4% in 2017.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1983.
- How does Nigeria rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Nigeria ranks 134th out of 185 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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 — 12 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.