Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 4.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 4.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.3% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in United Kingdom peaked at 11.5% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1973.
United Kingdom ranks 103rd of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.0% | 2.6% | 5.8% | 9 |
| 1980s | 9.8% | 3.9% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.1% | 6.0% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 4.6% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.1% | 3.7% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.4% | 3.8% | 4.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 100 San Marino 4.9% compare
- 101 Croatia 4.9% compare
- 101 Kazakhstan 4.9% compare
- 104 Brunei 4.9% compare
- 105 Honduras 4.9% compare
- 106 Switzerland 4.8% compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.37 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 2.09 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.4402 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies -0.1504 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.74 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 153.13 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in United Kingdom?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in United Kingdom was 4.9% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 11.5% in 1986.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1973.
- How does United Kingdom rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- United Kingdom ranks 103rd out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 55 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.