Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in United States
United States: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 4.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in United States, 1960–2025
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 United States is 4.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.5% on the previous year and down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in United States peaked at 9.7% in 1982 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 1969.
United States ranks 119th of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.8% | 3.5% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.2% | 4.9% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.3% | 5.3% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.8% | 4.2% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.5% | 4.0% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.2% | 3.7% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 3.6% | 8.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 117 Peru 4.3% compare
- 118 Sri Lanka 4.3% compare
- 120 Cayman Islands 4.2% compare
- 121 Australia 4.2% compare
- 122 Faroe Islands 4.0% compare
More reference data data for United States
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.51 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.5014 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0594 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.8696 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9189 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 143.86 2010 = 100 (2024)
- 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 States?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in United States was 4.3% 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 1982.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 1969.
- How does United States rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- United States ranks 119th out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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 — 66 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.