Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 5.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Afghanistan, 2008–2021
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 5.7% for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in 2021.
The figure is down 51.5% on the previous year and up 235.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Afghanistan peaked at 11.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2012.
Afghanistan ranks 85th of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2.5% | — |
| 2012 | 1.7% | -32.2% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | +367.8% |
| 2017 | 11.2% | +41.3% |
| 2020 | 11.7% | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | -51.5% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 5.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.5%, 1.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 5.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7.0%, 82% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 6.9% | 1.7% | 11.2% | 3 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 5.7% | 11.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Afghanistan?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Afghanistan was 5.7% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 11.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2012.
- How does Afghanistan rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Afghanistan ranks 85th out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 235.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.