WAEMU Youth Employment Outlook
young people aged 15 to 35 live in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) region — 36% of its total population.
Projected to add 27.9 million more by 2040, WAEMU's youth population is among the fastest-growing in the world, yet quality jobs are not keeping pace.
Youth population breakdown
Of the 53 million young people in WAEMU, most are already working — but the majority of that work is informal and low-productivity.
- 32MEmployed · 60%
- 11MStudents · 21%
- 10MNEET · 18%
Source: Africa Youth Employment Clock. WDL estimates based on national labor force surveys and data from ILO and IIASA.
WAEMU's youth population is among the fastest-growing globally, with a projected +53% increase by 2040 — outpacing the Africa-wide average of +41%.
The Alliance of Sahel States (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger), which exited ECOWAS in 2025, will absorb 61% of all youth added across WAEMU by 2040 — meaning most of the region's growth will happen in its most security-challenged subregion.
Youth population growth rate, 2025 to 2040
Youth added by country, 2025 to 2040 (27.9M total)
| Niger | 7.5M |
| Mali | 5.3M |
| Burkina Faso | 4.2M |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 4.1M |
| Senegal | 2.8M |
| Benin | 2.4M |
| Togo | 1.3M |
| Guinea-Bissau | 0.3M |
Source: Africa Youth Employment Clock. WDL estimates based on national labor force surveys and data from ILO and IIASA.
"Being employed does not mean escaping poverty."
Niger has the highest youth employment rate in the region (77%) — but it reflects subsistence farming, not opportunity. Senegal, with a more diversified economy, has the lowest (44%).
Youth employment rate by country
Poverty status of young workers in WAEMU
11M
young workers living under $2.15 a day.
Source: Africa Youth Employment Clock. WDL estimates based on national labor force surveys and data from ILO and IIASA.
The informality gap
of employed youth in WAEMU hold an informal job — higher than the Africa-wide share of 90%.
Informal employment rate by country
Source: Africa Youth Employment Clock. WDL estimates based on national labor force surveys and data from ILO and IIASA.
Agriculture still dominates
Agriculture employs 52% of WAEMU's working youth. Services are gaining ground, but agriculture remains the primary employer through 2040.
Source: Africa Youth Employment Clock. WDL estimates based on national labor force surveys and data from ILO and IIASA.
6.5 million young women in WAEMU are not in employment, education, or training — two-thirds of all NEET youth.
"Women are working, just not always in the labour market."
| Country | Total youth | Employed | Students | NEET | NEET female % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mali | 8.4M | 5.2M | 1.3M | 1.9M | 75% |
| Niger | 9.5M | 7.3M | 0.9M | 1.3M | 72% |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 10.9M | 6.2M | 3.0M | 1.7M | 67% |
| Senegal | 6.6M | 3.0M | 1.7M | 1.9M | 63% |
| Burkina Faso | 8.6M | 5.4M | 1.4M | 1.8M | 63% |
| Togo | 3.3M | 1.6M | 1.4M | 0.4M | 60% |
| Benin | 5.0M | 3.4M | 1.0M | 0.6M | 59% |
| Guinea-Bissau | 0.8M | 0.5M | 0.2M | 0.1M | 58% |
| WAEMU total | 53.1M | 32.5M | 10.9M | 9.7M | 67% |
Country-level initiatives
- Burkina Faso, Mali & Niger
World Bank youth employment partnerships targeting skills, apprenticeships and rural livelihoods across the Sahel.
- Mali
Digital connectivity programme expanding broadband access and digital skills for young workers.
- Côte d'Ivoire
Biochar and climate-smart agriculture initiative creating green rural jobs.
- Togo
Economic resilience project supporting micro-enterprise and vocational training.
- Guinea-Bissau
Cashew processing value-chain development to move youth from raw export to processing jobs.
Source: Africa Youth Employment Clock. WDL estimates based on national labor force surveys and data from ILO and IIASA.
Read the full WAEMU graphic report.
Full data, methodology and country profiles — available in English and French.
Source: Africa Youth Employment Clock. WDL estimates based on national labor force surveys and data from ILO and IIASA.