Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cuba

Cuba: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 1.7% in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
1.7%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
170th
of 185 countries
All-time high
8.3%
in 1995
All-time low
1.6%
in 2008
Years of data
24
1995–2018

Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cuba, 1995–2018

24681995200620181995: 8.3 %1996: 7.6 %1997: 7.1 %1998: 6.2 %1999: 6.3 %2000: 5.4 %2001: 4.1 %2002: 3.3 %2003: 2.3 %2004: 1.9 %2005: 1.9 %2006: 1.9 %2007: 1.8 %2008: 1.6 %2009: 1.7 %2010: 2.5 %2011: 3.2 %2012: 3.5 %2013: 3.3 %2014: 2.7 %2015: 2.4 %2016: 2 %2017: 1.7 %2018: 1.7 %

Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cuba is 1.7%, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cuba peaked at 8.3% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2008.

That places Cuba 170th out of 185 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 7.1% 6.2% 8.3% 5
2000s 2.6% 1.6% 5.4% 10
2010s 2.6% 1.7% 3.5% 9

Countries ranked near Cuba

  1. 167 Togo 2.0% compare
  2. 168 Guatemala 1.9% compare
  3. 169 United Arab Emirates 1.9% compare
  4. 171 Benin 1.7% compare
  5. 172 Tonga 1.7% compare
  6. 173 East Timor 1.5% compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More reference data data for Cuba

All data for Cuba →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cuba?
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cuba was 1.7% in 2018, 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 Cuba?
The highest recorded value was 8.3% in 1995.
What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Cuba?
The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2008.
How does Cuba rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
Cuba ranks 170th out of 185 countries with data for 2018.
Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Cuba?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Cuba 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.

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates
Unit
%
Source
Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
185 places, 5,169 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.