Unemployment, total (% of total 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
185
Highest
34.3%
Eswatini
Lowest
0.1%
Tajikistan
Median
5.3%
Years covered
66
1960–2025
Data points
6,031
What the numbers show
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) is currently reported for 185 countries. The highest value is 34.3% in Eswatini; the lowest is 0.1% in Tajikistan.
The median across all reporting countries is 5.3%, and the mean is 6.6%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 423.
Over the past decade 75 countries rose and 108 fell. The largest increase was in Nepal (up 673.6%), and the largest decrease in Tajikistan (down 96.3%).
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eswatini | 34.3% | 2023 | up 50.8% | rising |
| 2 | South Africa | 32.3% | 2024 | up 29.7% | falling |
| 3 | Palestine | 28.7% | 2025 | up 24.8% | rising |
| 4 | Botswana | 24.4% | 2024 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 5 | French Polynesia | 21.8% | 2012 | up 86.0% | rising |
| 6 | Namibia | 19.9% | 2018 | down 47.1% | flat |
| 7 | Curacao | 19.1% | 2020 | up 95.4% | rising |
| 8 | Lesotho | 18.7% | 2024 | down 23.9% | falling |
| 9 | Jordan | 16.8% | 2024 | up 41.2% | rising |
| 10 | Iraq | 16.2% | 2021 | up 103.1% | rising |
| 11 | Malawi | 15.4% | 2024 | up 209.5% | volatile |
| 12 | Tunisia | 15.1% | 2023 | down 5.2% | falling |
| 13 | Syria | 14.9% | 2011 | up 28.1% | rising |
| 14 | Guyana | 14.7% | 2021 | up 37.7% | rising |
| 15 | Haiti | 14.1% | 2012 | down 44.6% | rising |
| 16 | Yemen | 13.5% | 2014 | down 17.0% | volatile |
| 17 | Zimbabwe | 12.1% | 2024 | up 154.1% | rising |
| 18 | Morocco | 11.8% | 2022 | up 31.1% | falling |
| 19 | Algeria | 11.7% | 2017 | down 15.1% | falling |
| 20 | Montenegro | 11.5% | 2024 | down 36.1% | falling |
| 21 | North Macedonia | 11.5% | 2025 | down 56.3% | falling |
| 22 | Lebanon | 11.3% | 2019 | up 77.8% | rising |
| 23 | Cape Verde | 11.3% | 2019 | down 16.4% | falling |
| 24 | Northern Mariana Islands | 11.2% | 2010 | up 192.1% | falling |
| 25 | Dominica | 11.0% | 2001 | up 9.6% | rising |
| 26 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10.7% | 2024 | down 61.1% | falling |
| 27 | Nepal | 10.7% | 2017 | up 673.6% | volatile |
| 28 | Spain | 10.5% | 2025 | down 52.4% | rising |
| 29 | Mauritania | 10.4% | 2019 | up 5.6% | falling |
| 30 | Angola | 10.4% | 2025 | up 8.5% | falling |
| 31 | Bahamas | 10.3% | 2023 | down 36.1% | falling |
| 32 | New Caledonia | 10.2% | 2023 | down 30.4% | falling |
| 33 | Ukraine | 9.8% | 2021 | up 25.2% | flat |
| 34 | Marshall Islands | 9.8% | 2021 | up 107.5% | volatile |
| 35 | Finland | 9.7% | 2025 | up 3.5% | rising |
| 36 | American Samoa | 9.2% | 2010 | up 82.2% | falling |
| 37 | Greenland | 9.1% | 2015 | down 1.6% | falling |
| 38 | Belize | 9.1% | 2019 | up 10.6% | falling |
| 39 | Bermuda | 9.0% | 2014 | up 231.6% | rising |
| 40 | Aruba | 8.9% | 2011 | up 29.0% | rising |
| 41 | Chile | 8.9% | 2025 | up 34.7% | falling |
| 42 | Greece | 8.8% | 2025 | down 64.6% | rising |
| 43 | Sweden | 8.8% | 2025 | up 18.4% | rising |
| 44 | Antigua and Barbuda | 8.8% | 2018 | — | falling |
| 45 | Albania | 8.4% | 2024 | down 53.3% | rising |
| 46 | Colombia | 8.4% | 2025 | down 1.7% | rising |
| 47 | Turkey | 8.4% | 2025 | down 18.5% | rising |
| 48 | Panama | 8.3% | 2025 | up 88.7% | falling |
| 49 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 8.3% | 2008 | down 14.5% | falling |
| 50 | Armenia | 8.3% | 2023 | down 49.9% | volatile |
| 51 | Uruguay | 8.2% | 2024 | up 25.4% | flat |
| 52 | Georgia | 8.0% | 2024 | down 54.0% | rising |
| 53 | Suriname | 7.9% | 2016 | down 16.5% | falling |
| 54 | France | 7.7% | 2025 | down 25.6% | rising |
| 55 | Saint Lucia | 7.7% | 2025 | down 53.7% | falling |
| 56 | Iran | 7.6% | 2024 | down 28.5% | falling |
| 57 | Sudan | 7.5% | 2022 | down 56.8% | falling |
| 58 | Venezuela | 7.5% | 2020 | up 5.8% | falling |
| 59 | Estonia | 7.5% | 2025 | up 17.0% | rising |
| 60 | Argentina | 7.4% | 2025 | up 1.5% | volatile |
| 61 | Tuvalu | 7.3% | 2022 | up 32.5% | volatile |
| 62 | Serbia | 7.3% | 2025 | down 58.7% | falling |
| 63 | Burkina Faso | 7.1% | 2025 | up 9.3% | rising |
| 64 | Pakistan | 7.0% | 2025 | up 95.1% | volatile |
| 65 | Lithuania | 6.9% | 2025 | down 24.3% | falling |
| 65 | Latvia | 6.9% | 2025 | down 30.1% | falling |
| 67 | Canada | 6.8% | 2025 | down 2.4% | falling |
| 68 | Sao Tome and Principe | 6.7% | 2017 | down 60.0% | volatile |
| 69 | Luxembourg | 6.5% | 2025 | down 4.4% | rising |
| 70 | Denmark | 6.4% | 2025 | up 1.9% | falling |
| 71 | Costa Rica | 6.3% | 2025 | down 24.6% | rising |
| 72 | Grenada | 6.3% | 2023 | down 73.8% | falling |
| 73 | Belgium | 6.2% | 2025 | down 26.9% | falling |
| 74 | Italy | 6.1% | 2025 | down 48.7% | rising |
| 74 | Romania | 6.1% | 2025 | down 10.5% | falling |
| 76 | Barbados | 6.0% | 2024 | down 51.0% | falling |
| 77 | Portugal | 6.0% | 2025 | down 51.6% | rising |
| 78 | Egypt | 5.9% | 2024 | down 54.6% | rising |
| 79 | Liberia | 5.9% | 2017 | up 6.8% | flat |
| 80 | Brazil | 5.8% | 2025 | down 31.7% | rising |
| 81 | Mongolia | 5.8% | 2024 | up 21.1% | falling |
| 82 | Austria | 5.8% | 2025 | down 0.4% | rising |
| 83 | Senegal | 5.8% | 2024 | down 14.5% | falling |
| 84 | Azerbaijan | 5.7% | 2022 | up 9.8% | volatile |
| 85 | Afghanistan | 5.7% | 2021 | up 235.6% | volatile |
| 86 | Zambia | 5.7% | 2024 | down 52.3% | falling |
| 87 | Puerto Rico | 5.6% | 2025 | down 53.1% | falling |
| 88 | Kenya | 5.6% | 2021 | down 41.8% | falling |
| 89 | Guam | 5.4% | 2016 | down 24.3% | rising |
| 89 | Slovakia | 5.4% | 2025 | down 53.0% | falling |
| 91 | Rwanda | 5.4% | 2025 | up 358.8% | volatile |
| 92 | Fiji | 5.4% | 2024 | down 13.0% | rising |
| 93 | Uzbekistan | 5.3% | 2020 | down 2.0% | volatile |
| 94 | New Zealand | 5.3% | 2025 | down 2.8% | falling |
| 95 | Mauritius | 5.2% | 2024 | down 30.2% | falling |
| 96 | Nicaragua | 5.2% | 2018 | down 16.1% | falling |
| 97 | Dominican Republic | 5.2% | 2025 | down 32.1% | falling |
| 98 | Nauru | 5.1% | 2021 | down 78.0% | volatile |
| 99 | Samoa | 5.0% | 2022 | down 42.3% | volatile |
| 100 | San Marino | 4.9% | 2022 | down 2.8% | rising |
| 101 | Croatia | 4.9% | 2025 | down 69.7% | falling |
| 101 | Kazakhstan | 4.9% | 2022 | down 7.3% | volatile |
| 103 | United Kingdom | 4.9% | 2025 | down 11.8% | falling |
| 104 | Brunei | 4.9% | 2024 | down 29.0% | falling |
| 105 | Honduras | 4.9% | 2025 | down 21.1% | falling |
| 106 | Switzerland | 4.8% | 2025 | up 0.8% | volatile |
| 107 | Ireland | 4.7% | 2025 | down 52.6% | volatile |
| 108 | Paraguay | 4.6% | 2025 | up 1.7% | flat |
| 109 | China | 4.6% | 2022 | up 64.6% | volatile |
| 110 | Maldives | 4.6% | 2019 | down 61.0% | volatile |
| 111 | India | 4.5% | 2025 | up 39.9% | rising |
| 112 | Iceland | 4.5% | 2025 | up 13.1% | rising |
| 112 | Mali | 4.5% | 2024 | down 29.4% | falling |
| 112 | Norway | 4.5% | 2025 | up 4.7% | rising |
| 115 | Cyprus | 4.4% | 2025 | down 70.7% | volatile |
| 115 | Hungary | 4.4% | 2025 | down 35.4% | falling |
| 117 | Peru | 4.3% | 2025 | up 32.0% | falling |
| 118 | Sri Lanka | 4.3% | 2024 | up 3.8% | falling |
| 119 | United States | 4.3% | 2025 | down 18.9% | falling |
| 120 | Cayman Islands | 4.2% | 2015 | up 18.5% | falling |
| 121 | Australia | 4.2% | 2025 | down 30.7% | falling |
| 122 | Faroe Islands | 4.0% | 2013 | up 4.9% | rising |
| 123 | Trinidad and Tobago | 4.0% | 2024 | up 61.7% | volatile |
| 124 | Ghana | 4.0% | 2024 | up 82.8% | volatile |
| 125 | Ethiopia | 3.9% | 2021 | up 74.8% | rising |
| 126 | Malaysia | 3.9% | 2022 | up 28.5% | falling |
| 126 | Netherlands | 3.9% | 2025 | down 43.2% | falling |
| 126 | Slovenia | 3.9% | 2025 | down 56.5% | falling |
| 129 | Germany | 3.8% | 2025 | down 17.6% | falling |
| 130 | Hong Kong | 3.7% | 2025 | up 10.2% | rising |
| 131 | Bangladesh | 3.6% | 2024 | down 17.9% | rising |
| 132 | Bulgaria | 3.5% | 2025 | down 61.7% | falling |
| 133 | Kyrgyzstan | 3.5% | 2023 | down 36.7% | falling |
| 134 | Nigeria | 3.5% | 2024 | down 24.3% | rising |
| 135 | Uganda | 3.4% | 2021 | up 287.7% | falling |
| 136 | Bhutan | 3.4% | 2025 | up 37.1% | rising |
| 137 | Indonesia | 3.3% | 2023 | down 23.7% | rising |
| 138 | Oman | 3.3% | 2024 | up 1.0% | volatile |
| 139 | Cameroon | 3.3% | 2021 | down 20.3% | volatile |
| 140 | Singapore | 3.3% | 2025 | down 14.0% | flat |
| 141 | Saudi Arabia | 3.2% | 2025 | down 42.2% | falling |
| 142 | Ecuador | 3.2% | 2025 | down 5.5% | falling |
| 143 | Madagascar | 3.2% | 2022 | up 431.9% | falling |
| 144 | Malta | 3.1% | 2025 | down 42.5% | falling |
| 145 | Belarus | 3.0% | 2024 | up 522.7% | volatile |
| 146 | Jamaica | 3.0% | 2023 | down 68.8% | falling |
| 147 | Poland | 3.0% | 2025 | down 59.6% | volatile |
| 148 | Israel | 3.0% | 2025 | down 42.0% | rising |
| 149 | Czechia | 2.8% | 2025 | down 44.5% | falling |
| 150 | South Korea | 2.8% | 2025 | down 21.3% | falling |
| 151 | Kiribati | 2.8% | 2023 | down 70.2% | volatile |
| 152 | Bolivia | 2.7% | 2024 | up 35.1% | volatile |
| 153 | El Salvador | 2.7% | 2024 | down 34.8% | falling |
| 154 | Papua New Guinea | 2.7% | 2022 | up 2.5% | volatile |
| 155 | Isle of Man | 2.7% | 2016 | up 10.3% | volatile |
| 156 | Seychelles | 2.6% | 2024 | down 32.5% | volatile |
| 157 | Macao | 2.5% | 2020 | down 9.2% | falling |
| 157 | Mexico | 2.5% | 2025 | down 41.0% | flat |
| 159 | Japan | 2.5% | 2025 | down 26.1% | rising |
| 160 | Tanzania | 2.4% | 2024 | up 14.4% | falling |
| 161 | Philippines | 2.4% | 2023 | down 31.1% | falling |
| 162 | Cote d'Ivoire | 2.3% | 2022 | down 68.0% | falling |
| 162 | Liechtenstein | 2.3% | 2017 | up 14.8% | rising |
| 164 | Kuwait | 2.2% | 2016 | up 66.5% | volatile |
| 165 | Russia | 2.1% | 2025 | down 62.0% | falling |
| 166 | Palau | 2.1% | 2023 | up 54.1% | volatile |
| 167 | Togo | 2.0% | 2022 | down 0.9% | volatile |
| 168 | Guatemala | 1.9% | 2024 | down 30.0% | falling |
| 169 | United Arab Emirates | 1.9% | 2024 | up 14.6% | rising |
| 170 | Cuba | 1.7% | 2018 | up 7.4% | volatile |
| 171 | Benin | 1.7% | 2022 | down 36.3% | volatile |
| 172 | Tonga | 1.7% | 2023 | up 56.7% | volatile |
| 173 | East Timor | 1.5% | 2022 | down 62.0% | falling |
| 174 | Vietnam | 1.5% | 2024 | up 21.7% | falling |
| 175 | Myanmar | 1.5% | 2020 | down 61.8% | volatile |
| 176 | Vanuatu | 1.4% | 2025 | down 74.1% | volatile |
| 177 | Moldova | 1.3% | 2025 | down 28.2% | volatile |
| 178 | Laos | 1.2% | 2022 | up 70.8% | falling |
| 179 | Burundi | 1.0% | 2020 | down 37.0% | volatile |
| 180 | Bahrain | 0.9% | 2015 | — | volatile |
| 181 | Thailand | 0.6% | 2025 | up 1.2% | volatile |
| 182 | Niger | 0.4% | 2022 | down 81.5% | volatile |
| 183 | Cambodia | 0.3% | 2023 | down 41.6% | volatile |
| 184 | Qatar | 0.1% | 2024 | down 46.6% | volatile |
| 185 | Tajikistan | 0.1% | 2016 | down 96.3% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Kosovo 10.8%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 10.0%
- Arab World 9.7%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 8.3%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 8.2%
- Caribbean small states 7.9%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 7.8%
- Euro area 6.3%
- European Union 6.0%
- Latin America & Caribbean 5.4%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 5.4%
- Upper middle income 5.4%
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.