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.
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
- Spring temperature anomalies 3.05 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.6919 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.1923 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.44 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 2.68 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 168.54 2010 = 100 (2024)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
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.