Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates by country
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.
Countries reporting
181
Highest
34.3%
Eswatini
Lowest
0.1%
Tajikistan
Median
5.4%
Years covered
66
1960–2025
Data points
5,169
What the numbers show
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates is currently reported for 181 countries. The highest value is 34.3% in Eswatini; the lowest is 0.1% in Tajikistan.
The median across all reporting countries is 5.4%, and the mean is 6.7%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 423.
Over the past decade 74 countries rose and 105 fell. The largest increase was in Nepal (up 673.6%), and the largest decrease in Tajikistan (down 96.3%).
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates: 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.