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.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 2.1% | — |
| 1986 | 3.9% | +90.0% |
| 2011 | 3.8% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 4.6% | +22.9% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 7.1% | +63.8% |
| 2017 | 8.4% | +18.8% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | -47.0% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | -14.0% |
| 2023 | 3.1% | -19.7% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | +12.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 3.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 69% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 3.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 62% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
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.