Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) by country
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Countries reporting
186
Highest
34.2%
Eswatini
Lowest
0.1%
Qatar
Median
5.1%
Years covered
35
1991–2025
Data points
8,176
What the numbers show
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) is currently reported for 186 countries. The highest value is 34.2% in Eswatini; the lowest is 0.1% in Qatar.
The median across all reporting countries is 5.1%, and the mean is 6.9%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 263.
Over the past decade 60 countries rose and 126 fell. The largest increase was in Myanmar (up 297.8%), and the largest decrease in Croatia (down 69.0%).
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eswatini | 34.2% | 2025 | up 46.0% | rising |
| 2 | South Africa | 32.4% | 2025 | up 28.8% | rising |
| 3 | Djibouti | 26.0% | 2025 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 4 | Botswana | 24.5% | 2025 | up 29.4% | rising |
| 5 | Palestine | 24.4% | 2022 | up 27.2% | rising |
| 6 | Gabon | 20.2% | 2025 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 7 | Congo | 19.9% | 2025 | down 0.7% | flat |
| 8 | Namibia | 19.3% | 2025 | down 7.2% | falling |
| 9 | Somalia | 18.9% | 2025 | up 2.4% | flat |
| 10 | Libya | 18.8% | 2025 | down 4.7% | flat |
| 11 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 18.0% | 2025 | down 5.9% | falling |
| 12 | Yemen | 17.3% | 2025 | down 3.2% | rising |
| 13 | Jordan | 16.5% | 2025 | up 26.5% | flat |
| 14 | Lesotho | 16.3% | 2025 | up 0.6% | rising |
| 15 | Iraq | 15.5% | 2025 | up 42.5% | rising |
| 16 | Tunisia | 15.1% | 2025 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 17 | Haiti | 14.9% | 2025 | up 8.4% | rising |
| 18 | Angola | 14.1% | 2025 | down 14.4% | falling |
| 19 | Montenegro | 13.6% | 2025 | down 22.7% | falling |
| 20 | Syria | 13.6% | 2025 | down 4.7% | rising |
| 21 | Afghanistan | 13.4% | 2025 | up 47.8% | rising |
| 22 | Armenia | 12.9% | 2025 | down 29.5% | rising |
| 23 | South Sudan | 12.4% | 2023 | down 2.3% | rising |
| 24 | North Macedonia | 12.3% | 2025 | down 53.6% | falling |
| 25 | Georgia | 12.1% | 2025 | down 26.7% | rising |
| 26 | Guyana | 12.0% | 2025 | down 8.0% | rising |
| 27 | Cape Verde | 11.9% | 2025 | up 0.1% | falling |
| 28 | French Polynesia | 11.7% | 2025 | down 1.1% | flat |
| 29 | Algeria | 11.6% | 2025 | up 3.8% | falling |
| 30 | United States Virgin Islands | 11.4% | 2025 | down 1.8% | rising |
| 31 | Rwanda | 11.4% | 2025 | down 4.0% | rising |
| 32 | New Caledonia | 11.2% | 2025 | down 18.0% | falling |
| 33 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 11.0% | 2025 | down 60.1% | falling |
| 34 | Lebanon | 11.0% | 2023 | up 29.6% | rising |
| 35 | Albania | 10.9% | 2025 | down 36.5% | falling |
| 36 | Nepal | 10.5% | 2025 | down 1.7% | rising |
| 37 | Spain | 10.4% | 2025 | down 53.0% | falling |
| 38 | Mauritania | 10.3% | 2025 | up 2.1% | rising |
| 39 | Ukraine | 9.8% | 2021 | up 25.3% | rising |
| 40 | Finland | 9.5% | 2025 | up 0.9% | falling |
| 41 | Saint Lucia | 9.5% | 2025 | down 54.6% | falling |
| 42 | Zimbabwe | 9.3% | 2025 | up 72.1% | rising |
| 43 | Bahamas | 9.2% | 2025 | down 23.3% | flat |
| 44 | Sao Tome and Principe | 9.1% | 2025 | down 13.8% | falling |
| 45 | Morocco | 9.0% | 2025 | down 4.9% | falling |
| 46 | Chile | 9.0% | 2025 | up 35.9% | rising |
| 47 | Belize | 8.9% | 2025 | up 16.9% | falling |
| 48 | Sweden | 8.7% | 2025 | up 17.0% | rising |
| 49 | Greece | 8.5% | 2025 | down 65.8% | rising |
| 50 | Turkey | 8.5% | 2025 | down 17.3% | rising |
| 51 | Panama | 8.4% | 2025 | up 92.8% | rising |
| 52 | Equatorial Guinea | 8.3% | 2025 | up 7.2% | rising |
| 53 | Estonia | 8.3% | 2025 | up 29.6% | falling |
| 54 | Iran | 8.3% | 2025 | down 25.7% | falling |
| 55 | Colombia | 8.3% | 2025 | down 3.3% | falling |
| 56 | Suriname | 7.8% | 2025 | up 8.5% | falling |
| 57 | France | 7.5% | 2025 | down 27.2% | falling |
| 58 | Sudan | 7.5% | 2022 | down 55.6% | falling |
| 59 | Uruguay | 7.5% | 2025 | up 0.4% | falling |
| 60 | Argentina | 7.1% | 2025 | down 5.7% | falling |
| 61 | Serbia | 7.1% | 2025 | down 59.7% | falling |
| 62 | Tajikistan | 6.9% | 2025 | down 1.5% | rising |
| 63 | Canada | 6.9% | 2025 | down 0.5% | falling |
| 64 | Costa Rica | 6.8% | 2025 | down 18.7% | rising |
| 65 | Egypt | 6.8% | 2025 | down 48.0% | falling |
| 66 | Lithuania | 6.7% | 2025 | down 26.2% | falling |
| 67 | Mozambique | 6.6% | 2025 | up 93.5% | rising |
| 68 | Latvia | 6.6% | 2025 | down 33.5% | falling |
| 69 | Barbados | 6.5% | 2025 | down 33.4% | falling |
| 70 | Gambia | 6.5% | 2025 | down 9.8% | falling |
| 71 | Italy | 6.4% | 2025 | down 46.3% | falling |
| 72 | Luxembourg | 6.3% | 2025 | down 6.7% | rising |
| 73 | Central African Republic | 6.3% | 2025 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 74 | Portugal | 6.2% | 2025 | down 50.3% | rising |
| 75 | Romania | 6.0% | 2025 | down 12.0% | falling |
| 76 | Puerto Rico | 6.0% | 2025 | down 50.1% | falling |
| 77 | Eritrea | 6.0% | 2025 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 78 | Brazil | 6.0% | 2025 | down 30.1% | rising |
| 79 | Zambia | 5.9% | 2025 | down 0.6% | falling |
| 80 | Belgium | 5.9% | 2025 | down 30.4% | falling |
| 81 | Mauritius | 5.6% | 2025 | down 24.0% | falling |
| 82 | Austria | 5.6% | 2025 | down 3.8% | rising |
| 83 | Guam | 5.6% | 2025 | down 19.3% | falling |
| 84 | Denmark | 5.5% | 2025 | down 11.9% | falling |
| 85 | Azerbaijan | 5.5% | 2025 | up 10.0% | falling |
| 86 | Kenya | 5.4% | 2025 | up 97.3% | rising |
| 87 | Pakistan | 5.4% | 2025 | up 52.0% | volatile |
| 88 | Slovakia | 5.4% | 2025 | down 53.4% | falling |
| 89 | Fiji | 5.3% | 2025 | up 24.7% | rising |
| 90 | Venezuela | 5.3% | 2025 | down 13.6% | falling |
| 91 | Brunei | 5.3% | 2025 | down 31.5% | rising |
| 92 | Mongolia | 5.2% | 2025 | up 7.7% | flat |
| 93 | Guinea | 5.2% | 2025 | up 0.3% | rising |
| 94 | Peru | 5.1% | 2025 | up 56.4% | falling |
| 95 | Dominican Republic | 5.1% | 2025 | down 33.0% | falling |
| 96 | New Zealand | 5.1% | 2025 | down 6.3% | falling |
| 97 | Vanuatu | 5.1% | 2025 | down 1.8% | falling |
| 98 | Malawi | 5.1% | 2025 | up 2.4% | flat |
| 99 | Nicaragua | 5.0% | 2025 | up 7.2% | falling |
| 100 | Croatia | 5.0% | 2025 | down 69.0% | falling |
| 101 | Samoa | 5.0% | 2025 | down 43.9% | rising |
| 102 | Cyprus | 4.9% | 2025 | down 67.2% | volatile |
| 103 | Honduras | 4.9% | 2025 | down 20.0% | rising |
| 104 | Switzerland | 4.9% | 2025 | up 1.5% | rising |
| 105 | Paraguay | 4.8% | 2025 | up 5.4% | rising |
| 106 | Kazakhstan | 4.8% | 2025 | down 3.2% | falling |
| 107 | United Kingdom | 4.7% | 2025 | down 14.5% | falling |
| 108 | Norway | 4.6% | 2025 | up 7.9% | falling |
| 109 | Ireland | 4.6% | 2025 | down 53.2% | volatile |
| 110 | Uzbekistan | 4.6% | 2025 | down 10.3% | falling |
| 111 | China | 4.6% | 2025 | down 0.8% | rising |
| 112 | Hungary | 4.5% | 2025 | down 33.6% | falling |
| 113 | Maldives | 4.5% | 2025 | down 31.7% | volatile |
| 114 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 4.4% | 2025 | down 0.2% | rising |
| 115 | Turkmenistan | 4.3% | 2025 | up 6.2% | volatile |
| 116 | India | 4.2% | 2025 | down 44.7% | falling |
| 117 | United States | 4.2% | 2025 | down 20.5% | falling |
| 118 | Australia | 4.1% | 2025 | down 32.5% | falling |
| 119 | Sri Lanka | 4.0% | 2025 | down 11.4% | falling |
| 120 | Netherlands | 3.9% | 2025 | down 43.6% | falling |
| 121 | Comoros | 3.8% | 2025 | down 5.3% | falling |
| 122 | Bangladesh | 3.8% | 2025 | down 14.1% | rising |
| 123 | Malaysia | 3.8% | 2025 | up 21.4% | rising |
| 124 | Germany | 3.7% | 2025 | down 19.5% | falling |
| 125 | Iceland | 3.6% | 2025 | down 8.9% | rising |
| 126 | Cameroon | 3.6% | 2025 | up 2.4% | falling |
| 127 | North Korea | 3.5% | 2025 | up 0.6% | rising |
| 128 | Bulgaria | 3.5% | 2025 | down 61.3% | falling |
| 129 | Kyrgyzstan | 3.5% | 2025 | down 14.8% | rising |
| 130 | Israel | 3.5% | 2025 | down 32.6% | falling |
| 131 | Burkina Faso | 3.5% | 2025 | down 22.2% | rising |
| 132 | Belarus | 3.4% | 2025 | down 42.5% | volatile |
| 133 | Trinidad and Tobago | 3.3% | 2025 | up 37.1% | volatile |
| 134 | Ethiopia | 3.3% | 2025 | up 36.1% | flat |
| 135 | Ecuador | 3.3% | 2025 | down 8.5% | falling |
| 136 | El Salvador | 3.3% | 2025 | down 17.4% | falling |
| 137 | Jamaica | 3.3% | 2025 | down 62.8% | falling |
| 138 | Oman | 3.3% | 2025 | down 4.5% | falling |
| 139 | Indonesia | 3.2% | 2025 | down 28.3% | falling |
| 140 | Bhutan | 3.2% | 2025 | up 31.7% | rising |
| 141 | Slovenia | 3.2% | 2025 | down 64.6% | falling |
| 142 | Sierra Leone | 3.1% | 2025 | down 29.7% | falling |
| 143 | Nigeria | 3.1% | 2025 | down 25.9% | rising |
| 144 | Myanmar | 3.0% | 2025 | up 297.8% | volatile |
| 145 | Madagascar | 3.0% | 2025 | up 70.4% | falling |
| 146 | Saudi Arabia | 3.0% | 2025 | down 45.8% | falling |
| 147 | Ghana | 3.0% | 2025 | down 56.2% | falling |
| 148 | Poland | 3.0% | 2025 | down 60.2% | volatile |
| 149 | Bolivia | 3.0% | 2025 | down 4.6% | rising |
| 150 | Malta | 2.9% | 2025 | down 46.3% | falling |
| 151 | Liberia | 2.9% | 2025 | up 12.8% | rising |
| 152 | Mali | 2.8% | 2025 | up 101.6% | rising |
| 153 | Czechia | 2.8% | 2025 | down 44.0% | falling |
| 154 | Singapore | 2.8% | 2025 | down 25.6% | flat |
| 155 | Hong Kong | 2.8% | 2025 | down 15.5% | flat |
| 156 | Uganda | 2.7% | 2025 | up 2.4% | falling |
| 157 | Senegal | 2.7% | 2025 | down 59.5% | rising |
| 158 | South Korea | 2.7% | 2025 | down 24.3% | flat |
| 159 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.7% | 2025 | down 15.6% | falling |
| 159 | Mexico | 2.7% | 2025 | down 38.0% | falling |
| 161 | Guatemala | 2.6% | 2025 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 162 | Papua New Guinea | 2.6% | 2025 | up 2.6% | flat |
| 163 | Japan | 2.5% | 2025 | down 27.6% | falling |
| 164 | Macao | 2.3% | 2025 | up 29.7% | falling |
| 165 | Cote d'Ivoire | 2.3% | 2025 | down 9.7% | falling |
| 166 | Philippines | 2.2% | 2025 | down 27.2% | falling |
| 167 | Kuwait | 2.2% | 2025 | down 0.9% | rising |
| 168 | United Arab Emirates | 2.2% | 2025 | up 21.2% | rising |
| 169 | Russia | 2.1% | 2025 | down 62.0% | falling |
| 170 | Tonga | 2.0% | 2025 | down 0.7% | falling |
| 171 | Togo | 2.0% | 2025 | down 9.5% | falling |
| 172 | Cuba | 1.7% | 2025 | down 27.2% | volatile |
| 173 | East Timor | 1.6% | 2025 | down 56.7% | falling |
| 174 | Benin | 1.6% | 2025 | down 15.7% | rising |
| 175 | Tanzania | 1.6% | 2025 | down 21.8% | falling |
| 176 | Vietnam | 1.5% | 2025 | down 17.6% | falling |
| 177 | Moldova | 1.5% | 2025 | down 15.5% | volatile |
| 178 | Solomon Islands | 1.4% | 2025 | up 94.4% | falling |
| 179 | Laos | 1.2% | 2025 | down 40.8% | falling |
| 180 | Bahrain | 1.1% | 2025 | down 5.3% | rising |
| 181 | Chad | 1.1% | 2025 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 182 | Burundi | 0.9% | 2025 | down 36.4% | falling |
| 183 | Thailand | 0.8% | 2025 | up 30.8% | volatile |
| 184 | Niger | 0.4% | 2025 | down 29.1% | volatile |
| 185 | Cambodia | 0.3% | 2025 | down 33.1% | falling |
| 186 | Qatar | 0.1% | 2025 | down 23.5% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Arab World 9.2%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 8.7%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 8.7%
- Other small states 8.6%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 7.8%
- Small states 7.8%
- Caribbean small states 7.6%
- Africa Eastern and Southern 7.5%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 6.8%
- Euro area 6.3%
- Channel Islands 6.2%
- European Union 5.9%
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.