Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Pakistan
Pakistan: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 7.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Pakistan, 1971–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Pakistan stood at 7.0%.
That represents a change of up 95.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Pakistan peaked at 7.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2007.
Pakistan ranks 64th of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.1% | — |
| 1972 | 2.2% | +3.2% |
| 1973 | 2.0% | -7.1% |
| 1974 | 1.7% | -16.7% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 1.9% | +12.0% |
| 1977 | 1.9% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 4.2% | +120.2% |
| 1979 | 4.1% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 4.0% | -2.7% |
| 1981 | 3.8% | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 3.8% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 4.3% | +12.4% |
| 1984 | 4.2% | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 4.0% | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 4.0% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 3.0% | -23.2% |
| 1988 | 2.2% | -29.1% |
| 1989 | 2.0% | -6.1% |
| 1990 | 2.0% | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 6.3% | +218.6% |
| 1992 | 5.8% | -6.8% |
| 1993 | 4.7% | -19.1% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 5.0% | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 4.8% | -4.8% |
| 1997 | 5.8% | +21.4% |
| 1998 | 5.7% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 5.4% | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 7.2% | +33.8% |
| 2001 | 6.9% | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | +13.7% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 7.4% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 7.0% | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -91.7% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | -31.6% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 0.5% | +26.5% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | +22.1% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | +21.9% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | +360.7% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | -19.4% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | -38.2% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | +95.2% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -35.9% |
| 2018 | 4.1% | +78.7% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | +18.3% |
| 2020 | 6.7% | +39.5% |
| 2021 | 6.3% | -6.0% |
| 2025 | 7.0% | +9.8% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 7.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 1.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 7.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7.0%, 1.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +360.7% | 0.8% | 3.7% |
| 1991 | +218.6% | 2.0% | 6.3% |
| 1978 | +120.2% | 1.9% | 4.2% |
| 2015 | +95.2% | 1.8% | 3.6% |
| 2006 | -91.7% | 7.0% | 0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.4% | 1.7% | 4.2% | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.5% | 2.0% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.0% | 2.0% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 0.4% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 0.7% | 4.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 6.7% | 6.3% | 7.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More reference data data for Pakistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 61.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.3 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 91.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 260 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.79 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Pakistan?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Pakistan was 7.0% in 2025, 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 7.8% in 2002.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2007.
- How does Pakistan rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Pakistan ranks 64th out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 95.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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
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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.