Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) by country
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.
Countries reporting
179
Highest
31.8%
Eswatini
Lowest
0.1%
Qatar
Median
4.8%
Years covered
66
1960–2025
Data points
5,392
What the numbers show
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) is currently reported for 179 countries. The highest value is 31.8% in Eswatini; the lowest is 0.1% in Qatar.
The median across all reporting countries is 4.8%, and the mean is 6.1%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 540.
Over the past decade 67 countries rose and 109 fell. The largest increase was in Nepal (up 477.5%), and the largest decrease in Tajikistan (down 99.1%).
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eswatini | 31.8% | 2023 | up 51.4% | rising |
| 2 | South Africa | 30.4% | 2024 | up 31.4% | rising |
| 3 | Palestine | 28.5% | 2025 | up 41.0% | rising |
| 4 | Botswana | 22.5% | 2024 | up 26.2% | rising |
| 5 | Namibia | 21.1% | 2018 | down 35.1% | flat |
| 6 | French Polynesia | 21.1% | 2012 | up 98.5% | rising |
| 7 | Curacao | 17.6% | 2020 | up 109.7% | rising |
| 8 | Lesotho | 16.2% | 2024 | down 27.8% | falling |
| 9 | Puerto Rico | 15.0% | 2020 | down 19.8% | falling |
| 10 | Jordan | 14.7% | 2024 | up 45.5% | rising |
| 11 | Iraq | 14.3% | 2021 | up 98.7% | rising |
| 12 | Malawi | 12.9% | 2024 | up 215.6% | volatile |
| 13 | Tunisia | 12.8% | 2023 | down 3.3% | falling |
| 14 | Guyana | 12.8% | 2021 | — | rising |
| 15 | Yemen | 12.3% | 2014 | down 5.1% | volatile |
| 16 | North Macedonia | 12.2% | 2025 | down 54.9% | rising |
| 17 | Dominica | 11.9% | 2001 | up 86.2% | rising |
| 18 | Guam | 11.9% | 2012 | down 7.2% | rising |
| 19 | Zimbabwe | 11.7% | 2024 | up 168.2% | rising |
| 20 | Haiti | 11.5% | 2012 | down 51.7% | falling |
| 21 | Montenegro | 10.9% | 2024 | down 39.2% | falling |
| 22 | Cape Verde | 10.7% | 2019 | down 19.8% | falling |
| 23 | Syria | 10.4% | 2011 | up 26.6% | rising |
| 24 | Morocco | 10.2% | 2022 | up 18.1% | falling |
| 25 | Finland | 10.2% | 2025 | up 3.3% | rising |
| 26 | Angola | 10.2% | 2025 | up 2.1% | flat |
| 27 | Bermuda | 10.0% | 2014 | up 219.9% | rising |
| 28 | Nepal | 9.8% | 2017 | up 477.5% | volatile |
| 29 | Northern Mariana Islands | 9.7% | 2010 | up 120.4% | falling |
| 30 | New Caledonia | 9.6% | 2023 | down 30.0% | falling |
| 31 | Ukraine | 9.5% | 2021 | up 8.6% | flat |
| 32 | Georgia | 9.5% | 2024 | down 52.2% | falling |
| 33 | Algeria | 9.4% | 2017 | down 26.8% | volatile |
| 34 | Spain | 9.3% | 2025 | down 55.2% | rising |
| 35 | Bahamas | 8.9% | 2023 | down 44.7% | flat |
| 36 | Greenland | 8.9% | 2015 | down 14.6% | falling |
| 36 | Sweden | 8.9% | 2025 | up 17.7% | volatile |
| 38 | Marshall Islands | 8.9% | 2021 | up 82.0% | volatile |
| 39 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8.8% | 2024 | down 64.9% | falling |
| 40 | Aruba | 8.6% | 2011 | up 32.3% | rising |
| 41 | Chile | 8.4% | 2025 | up 37.3% | falling |
| 42 | Estonia | 8.3% | 2025 | up 27.8% | falling |
| 43 | Lithuania | 7.9% | 2025 | down 21.8% | falling |
| 44 | Albania | 7.9% | 2024 | down 60.5% | falling |
| 45 | France | 7.8% | 2025 | down 27.7% | rising |
| 46 | Latvia | 7.7% | 2025 | down 30.6% | falling |
| 47 | Antigua and Barbuda | 7.6% | 2018 | — | falling |
| 48 | Venezuela | 7.3% | 2020 | up 0.9% | falling |
| 49 | Armenia | 7.2% | 2023 | down 50.4% | volatile |
| 50 | Uruguay | 7.2% | 2024 | up 42.5% | falling |
| 51 | Saint Lucia | 7.2% | 2025 | down 52.0% | falling |
| 52 | Canada | 7.1% | 2025 | down 5.5% | falling |
| 53 | Serbia | 7.1% | 2025 | down 58.0% | falling |
| 54 | Greece | 7.0% | 2025 | down 67.9% | volatile |
| 55 | Turkey | 6.9% | 2025 | down 25.4% | rising |
| 56 | Colombia | 6.8% | 2025 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 57 | Panama | 6.7% | 2025 | up 79.0% | falling |
| 58 | Argentina | 6.7% | 2025 | up 3.8% | falling |
| 59 | Belgium | 6.7% | 2025 | down 26.3% | rising |
| 60 | Tuvalu | 6.7% | 2022 | up 16.7% | volatile |
| 61 | Barbados | 6.7% | 2024 | down 43.6% | falling |
| 62 | Sao Tome and Principe | 6.6% | 2017 | down 40.5% | volatile |
| 63 | Denmark | 6.4% | 2025 | up 5.7% | falling |
| 64 | Iran | 6.2% | 2024 | down 30.0% | falling |
| 65 | Liberia | 6.2% | 2017 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 66 | Luxembourg | 6.2% | 2025 | down 4.1% | volatile |
| 66 | Romania | 6.2% | 2025 | down 17.7% | falling |
| 68 | Burkina Faso | 6.1% | 2025 | up 57.9% | rising |
| 69 | Austria | 6.1% | 2025 | down 1.7% | rising |
| 70 | Mongolia | 6.0% | 2024 | up 17.0% | rising |
| 71 | Sudan | 6.0% | 2022 | down 51.7% | falling |
| 72 | Pakistan | 5.9% | 2025 | up 112.7% | falling |
| 73 | Belize | 5.9% | 2019 | up 0.3% | falling |
| 74 | Costa Rica | 5.8% | 2025 | down 18.7% | rising |
| 75 | Afghanistan | 5.7% | 2021 | up 321.2% | volatile |
| 76 | Italy | 5.7% | 2025 | down 49.6% | rising |
| 77 | Suriname | 5.7% | 2016 | down 19.2% | falling |
| 78 | Portugal | 5.6% | 2025 | down 53.9% | rising |
| 79 | Croatia | 5.4% | 2025 | down 65.0% | falling |
| 80 | United Kingdom | 5.2% | 2025 | down 8.6% | falling |
| 81 | Nicaragua | 5.2% | 2018 | down 8.8% | flat |
| 82 | Zambia | 5.2% | 2024 | down 16.5% | volatile |
| 83 | Slovakia | 5.1% | 2025 | down 50.7% | falling |
| 84 | New Zealand | 5.1% | 2025 | up 2.5% | falling |
| 85 | Senegal | 5.1% | 2024 | down 20.8% | falling |
| 86 | Maldives | 5.0% | 2019 | down 51.6% | volatile |
| 87 | Rwanda | 5.0% | 2025 | up 362.3% | volatile |
| 88 | Nauru | 4.9% | 2021 | down 77.0% | volatile |
| 89 | Norway | 4.9% | 2025 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 90 | Switzerland | 4.8% | 2025 | up 2.7% | volatile |
| 91 | Azerbaijan | 4.8% | 2022 | up 11.1% | volatile |
| 92 | Brazil | 4.8% | 2025 | down 33.6% | rising |
| 93 | Ireland | 4.7% | 2025 | down 56.2% | falling |
| 94 | Hungary | 4.6% | 2025 | down 30.5% | volatile |
| 95 | India | 4.6% | 2025 | up 49.7% | rising |
| 96 | Iceland | 4.5% | 2025 | up 15.0% | rising |
| 97 | Fiji | 4.5% | 2024 | down 9.1% | flat |
| 98 | Hong Kong | 4.4% | 2025 | up 27.6% | rising |
| 99 | United States | 4.4% | 2025 | down 18.6% | rising |
| 100 | Australia | 4.4% | 2025 | down 27.9% | falling |
| 101 | Kazakhstan | 4.3% | 2022 | up 4.1% | falling |
| 102 | Brunei | 4.3% | 2024 | down 29.9% | rising |
| 103 | Germany | 4.2% | 2025 | down 15.4% | falling |
| 104 | Grenada | 4.1% | 2023 | down 67.3% | falling |
| 105 | Egypt | 4.0% | 2024 | down 58.5% | rising |
| 106 | Cyprus | 4.0% | 2025 | down 73.6% | volatile |
| 107 | Uzbekistan | 3.9% | 2020 | down 14.3% | volatile |
| 108 | Paraguay | 3.9% | 2025 | down 9.8% | falling |
| 109 | Trinidad and Tobago | 3.9% | 2024 | up 79.7% | volatile |
| 110 | Kenya | 3.8% | 2021 | down 61.3% | falling |
| 111 | Malaysia | 3.8% | 2022 | up 28.2% | falling |
| 111 | Netherlands | 3.8% | 2025 | down 41.8% | falling |
| 113 | Mauritius | 3.8% | 2024 | down 29.2% | falling |
| 114 | Peru | 3.8% | 2025 | up 17.8% | falling |
| 115 | Bangladesh | 3.7% | 2024 | up 18.5% | rising |
| 116 | Bulgaria | 3.7% | 2025 | down 62.2% | falling |
| 117 | Honduras | 3.6% | 2025 | down 17.8% | falling |
| 118 | Slovenia | 3.6% | 2025 | down 55.3% | falling |
| 119 | Ghana | 3.6% | 2024 | up 82.7% | volatile |
| 120 | Samoa | 3.5% | 2022 | down 55.5% | volatile |
| 121 | Indonesia | 3.5% | 2023 | down 21.1% | rising |
| 122 | Belarus | 3.4% | 2024 | up 188.3% | volatile |
| 123 | Faroe Islands | 3.4% | 2013 | up 18.3% | rising |
| 124 | Cayman Islands | 3.3% | 2015 | up 10.6% | rising |
| 125 | Singapore | 3.2% | 2025 | down 11.6% | rising |
| 126 | Malta | 3.1% | 2025 | down 42.5% | falling |
| 127 | Israel | 3.1% | 2025 | down 38.8% | rising |
| 128 | Kyrgyzstan | 3.0% | 2023 | down 37.8% | falling |
| 129 | Dominican Republic | 3.0% | 2025 | down 44.2% | falling |
| 130 | Isle of Man | 3.0% | 2016 | up 8.1% | volatile |
| 131 | Mali | 3.0% | 2024 | down 53.3% | falling |
| 132 | Sri Lanka | 3.0% | 2024 | down 1.9% | falling |
| 133 | Madagascar | 2.9% | 2022 | up 415.4% | volatile |
| 134 | Ethiopia | 2.9% | 2021 | up 77.6% | rising |
| 135 | San Marino | 2.9% | 2022 | up 37.0% | rising |
| 136 | Macao | 2.9% | 2020 | down 16.5% | volatile |
| 137 | Uganda | 2.9% | 2021 | up 293.5% | rising |
| 138 | South Korea | 2.8% | 2025 | down 21.3% | falling |
| 139 | Poland | 2.8% | 2025 | down 61.5% | volatile |
| 140 | Liechtenstein | 2.7% | 2017 | up 62.0% | rising |
| 141 | Japan | 2.7% | 2025 | down 25.1% | rising |
| 142 | Nigeria | 2.7% | 2024 | down 30.8% | rising |
| 143 | Ecuador | 2.6% | 2025 | down 7.4% | falling |
| 144 | Bhutan | 2.6% | 2025 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 145 | Czechia | 2.5% | 2025 | down 40.9% | falling |
| 146 | Mexico | 2.5% | 2025 | down 41.2% | rising |
| 147 | Cameroon | 2.5% | 2021 | down 27.0% | volatile |
| 148 | El Salvador | 2.4% | 2024 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 149 | Seychelles | 2.4% | 2024 | down 36.2% | falling |
| 150 | Bolivia | 2.3% | 2024 | up 70.4% | volatile |
| 151 | Philippines | 2.3% | 2023 | down 31.1% | volatile |
| 152 | Jamaica | 2.2% | 2023 | down 69.7% | falling |
| 153 | Palau | 2.2% | 2023 | up 106.3% | volatile |
| 154 | Cote d'Ivoire | 2.1% | 2022 | down 70.6% | volatile |
| 155 | Saudi Arabia | 2.1% | 2025 | down 13.2% | falling |
| 156 | Kiribati | 2.1% | 2023 | down 82.7% | volatile |
| 157 | Russia | 2.0% | 2025 | down 65.7% | falling |
| 158 | Benin | 1.9% | 2022 | down 21.7% | volatile |
| 159 | Togo | 1.8% | 2022 | down 21.8% | volatile |
| 160 | Vietnam | 1.6% | 2024 | up 16.4% | falling |
| 161 | Oman | 1.6% | 2022 | down 52.6% | volatile |
| 162 | Cuba | 1.6% | 2018 | up 18.7% | falling |
| 163 | East Timor | 1.5% | 2022 | down 62.9% | falling |
| 164 | Laos | 1.5% | 2022 | up 98.4% | rising |
| 165 | Tanzania | 1.5% | 2024 | down 4.8% | volatile |
| 166 | Guatemala | 1.4% | 2024 | down 40.4% | falling |
| 167 | Moldova | 1.4% | 2025 | down 39.2% | volatile |
| 168 | Vanuatu | 1.3% | 2025 | down 68.6% | falling |
| 169 | Tonga | 1.1% | 2023 | up 18.1% | volatile |
| 170 | Burundi | 1.1% | 2020 | down 49.5% | volatile |
| 171 | Myanmar | 1.0% | 2020 | down 72.8% | volatile |
| 172 | United Arab Emirates | 1.0% | 2024 | down 5.7% | rising |
| 173 | Kuwait | 0.9% | 2016 | up 18.0% | volatile |
| 174 | Thailand | 0.6% | 2025 | down 5.9% | volatile |
| 175 | Niger | 0.5% | 2022 | down 68.9% | volatile |
| 176 | Cambodia | 0.3% | 2023 | down 16.9% | volatile |
| 177 | Bahrain | 0.2% | 2015 | — | volatile |
| 178 | Tajikistan | 0.1% | 2016 | down 99.1% | volatile |
| 179 | Qatar | 0.1% | 2024 | down 15.7% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 9.5%
- Kosovo 7.7%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 7.2%
- Arab World 7.1%
- Caribbean small states 7.1%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 7.1%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 6.6%
- Euro area 6.2%
- European Union 5.8%
- IBRD only 5.4%
- Europe & Central Asia 5.2%
- OECD members 4.8%
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.