Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Myanmar

Myanmar: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 1.5% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
1.5%
Change on year
up 262.7%
World rank
175th
of 185 countries
All-time high
6.0%
in 1990
All-time low
0.2%
in 1988
Years of data
10
1985–2020

Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Myanmar, 1985–2020

02461985200220201985: 2.8 %1986: 2.2 %1988: 0.215 %1990: 6 %2014: 3.9 %2015: 0.766 %2017: 1.4 %2018: 0.767 %2019: 0.407 %2020: 1.5 %

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

Analysis

Myanmar recorded 1.5% for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in 2020.

The figure is up 262.7% on the previous year and down 61.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Myanmar peaked at 6.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1988.

Myanmar ranks 175th of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Myanmar, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Myanmar, 1985 to 2020.
Year % Change
1985 2.8%
1986 2.2% -22.8%
1988 0.2% -90.1%
1990 6.0% +2690.7%
2014 3.9% -35.5%
2015 0.8% -80.2%
2017 1.4% +77.0%
2018 0.8% -43.4%
2019 0.4% -46.9%
2020 1.5% +262.7%

Myanmar compared with similar countries

  • Myanmar's 1.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 29% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
  • Myanmar's 1.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.5%, 42% of the median. (34 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.7% 0.2% 2.8% 3
1990s 6.0% 6.0% 6.0% 1
2010s 1.4% 0.4% 3.9% 5
2020s 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1

Countries ranked near Myanmar

  1. 172 Tonga 1.7% compare
  2. 173 East Timor 1.5% compare
  3. 174 Vietnam 1.5% compare
  4. 176 Vanuatu 1.4% compare
  5. 177 Moldova 1.3% compare
  6. 178 Laos 1.2% compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More reference data data for Myanmar

All data for Myanmar →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Myanmar?
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Myanmar was 1.5% in 2020, 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 Myanmar?
The highest recorded value was 6.0% in 1990.
What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Myanmar?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1988.
How does Myanmar rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
Myanmar ranks 175th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Myanmar?
Over the last ten years it is down 61.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Myanmar 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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Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Myanmar. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/ilo-national-vs-modeled-data/myanmar/

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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.