Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Rwanda
Rwanda: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 5.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Rwanda, 1989–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Rwanda is 5.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 52.7% on the previous year and up 358.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Rwanda peaked at 15.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1991.
That places Rwanda 91st out of 185 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0.8% | — |
| 1991 | 0.3% | -62.5% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +88.0% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | +58.7% |
| 2012 | 3.4% | +284.1% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | -66.0% |
| 2017 | 11.9% | +915.8% |
| 2018 | 10.8% | -9.4% |
| 2019 | 11.2% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 11.8% | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | +33.4% |
| 2022 | 15.1% | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 12.4% | -18.1% |
| 2024 | 11.3% | -8.3% |
| 2025 | 5.4% | -52.7% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 5.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 5.5%, 97% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 5.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 96% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +915.8% | 1.2% | 11.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.7% | 1.2% | 11.9% | 5 |
| 2020s | 12.0% | 5.4% | 15.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More reference data data for Rwanda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1223 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7651 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.666 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Rwanda?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Rwanda was 5.4% in 2025, 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 15.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1991.
- How does Rwanda rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Rwanda ranks 91st out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 358.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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 — 15 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.