Unemployment by country
How many people who want a job don't have one. Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate).
- World median5.1%2025 · 182 countries
- Portugal6.2%2025 · 72nd of 184
- Highest: Eswatini34.2%2025
- Lowest: Qatar0.1%2025
- Below 3%
- 3% to 5%
- 5% to 8%
- 8% to 12%
- 12% or more
- No data
Swipe sideways to see the whole map.
Each shade is one band of the legend, from the lowest to the highest share. Portugal is outlined. Small countries are shown as dots.
What it is
The unemployment rate counts people who have no job, are available to work and are looking for one, as a share of everyone working or looking. These figures are estimates by the International Labour Organization (ILO), which uses one method for every country so they can be compared.
Why it matters
Jobs drive spending, and spending drives most of the economy. Careful with comparisons, though: in countries where many people work informally or on their own farm, unemployment can look low even when good jobs are scarce.
What moves it
The business cycle, the rules for hiring and firing, how many young people enter the job market, migration, and how many people choose to work.
The euro area
The 21 countries that use the euro, highest first. Their rank is among all countries.
| # | Country | Unemployment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Spain€ | 10.4% | 2025 |
| 38 | Finland€ | 9.5% | 2025 |
| 47 | Greece€ | 8.5% | 2025 |
| 51 | Estonia€ | 8.3% | 2025 |
| 55 | France€ | 7.5% | 2025 |
| 63 | Lithuania€ | 6.7% | 2025 |
| 65 | Latvia€ | 6.6% | 2025 |
| 68 | Italy€ | 6.4% | 2025 |
| 69 | Luxembourg€ | 6.3% | 2025 |
| 72 | Portugal€ | 6.2% | 2025 |
| 78 | Belgium€ | 5.9% | 2025 |
| 80 | Austria€ | 5.6% | 2025 |
| 86 | Slovakia€ | 5.4% | 2025 |
| 98 | Croatia€ | 5.0% | 2025 |
| 100 | Cyprus€ | 4.9% | 2025 |
| 107 | Ireland€ | 4.6% | 2025 |
| 118 | Netherlands€ | 3.9% | 2025 |
| 122 | Germany€ | 3.7% | 2025 |
| 126 | Bulgaria€ | 3.5% | 2025 |
| 139 | Slovenia€ | 3.2% | 2025 |
| 148 | Malta€ | 2.9% | 2025 |
Full ranking
All 184 countries with a figure from 2023 or later, highest first. Select a column heading to sort.
| Region | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eswatini | Sub-Saharan Africa | 34.2% | 2025 |
| 2 | South Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa | 32.4% | 2025 |
| 3 | Djibouti | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 26.0% | 2025 |
| 4 | Botswana | Sub-Saharan Africa | 24.5% | 2025 |
| 5 | Gabon | Sub-Saharan Africa | 20.2% | 2025 |
| 6 | Republic of the Congo | Sub-Saharan Africa | 19.9% | 2025 |
| 7 | Namibia | Sub-Saharan Africa | 19.3% | 2025 |
| 8 | Somalia | Sub-Saharan Africa | 19.0% | 2025 |
| 9 | Libya | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 18.8% | 2025 |
| 10 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Latin America & Caribbean | 18.0% | 2025 |
| 11 | Yemen | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 17.3% | 2025 |
| 12 | Jordan | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 16.5% | 2025 |
| 13 | Lesotho | Sub-Saharan Africa | 16.3% | 2025 |
| 14 | Iraq | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 15.5% | 2025 |
| 15 | Tunisia | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 15.1% | 2025 |
| 16 | Haiti | Latin America & Caribbean | 14.9% | 2025 |
| 17 | Angola | Sub-Saharan Africa | 14.1% | 2025 |
| 18 | Montenegro | Europe & Central Asia | 13.6% | 2025 |
| 18 | Syria | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 13.6% | 2025 |
| 20 | Afghanistan | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 13.4% | 2025 |
| 21 | Armenia | Europe & Central Asia | 12.9% | 2025 |
| 22 | South Sudan | Sub-Saharan Africa | 12.4% | 2023 |
| 23 | North Macedonia | Europe & Central Asia | 12.3% | 2025 |
| 24 | Georgia | Europe & Central Asia | 12.1% | 2025 |
| 25 | Guyana | Latin America & Caribbean | 12.0% | 2025 |
| 26 | Cabo Verde | Sub-Saharan Africa | 11.9% | 2025 |
| 27 | French Polynesia | East Asia & Pacific | 11.7% | 2025 |
| 28 | Algeria | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 11.6% | 2025 |
| 29 | US Virgin Islands | Latin America & Caribbean | 11.4% | 2025 |
| 30 | Rwanda | Sub-Saharan Africa | 11.4% | 2025 |
| 31 | New Caledonia | East Asia & Pacific | 11.2% | 2025 |
| 32 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Europe & Central Asia | 11.0% | 2025 |
| 33 | Lebanon | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 11.0% | 2023 |
| 34 | Albania | Europe & Central Asia | 10.9% | 2025 |
| 35 | Nepal | South Asia | 10.5% | 2025 |
| 36 | Spain€ | Europe & Central Asia | 10.4% | 2025 |
| 37 | Mauritania | Sub-Saharan Africa | 10.3% | 2025 |
| 38 | Finland€ | Europe & Central Asia | 9.5% | 2025 |
| 39 | Saint Lucia | Latin America & Caribbean | 9.5% | 2025 |
| 40 | Zimbabwe | Sub-Saharan Africa | 9.3% | 2025 |
| 41 | Bahamas | Latin America & Caribbean | 9.2% | 2025 |
| 42 | São Tomé and Príncipe | Sub-Saharan Africa | 9.1% | 2025 |
| 43 | Morocco | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 9.0% | 2025 |
| 44 | Chile | Latin America & Caribbean | 9.0% | 2025 |
| 45 | Belize | Latin America & Caribbean | 8.9% | 2025 |
| 46 | Sweden | Europe & Central Asia | 8.7% | 2025 |
| 47 | Greece€ | Europe & Central Asia | 8.5% | 2025 |
| 48 | Türkiye | Europe & Central Asia | 8.5% | 2025 |
| 49 | Panama | Latin America & Caribbean | 8.4% | 2025 |
| 50 | Equatorial Guinea | Sub-Saharan Africa | 8.3% | 2025 |
| 51 | Estonia€ | Europe & Central Asia | 8.3% | 2025 |
| 52 | Iran | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 8.3% | 2025 |
| 53 | Colombia | Latin America & Caribbean | 8.3% | 2025 |
| 54 | Suriname | Latin America & Caribbean | 7.8% | 2025 |
| 55 | France€ | Europe & Central Asia | 7.5% | 2025 |
| 56 | Uruguay | Latin America & Caribbean | 7.5% | 2025 |
| 57 | Argentina | Latin America & Caribbean | 7.2% | 2025 |
| 58 | Serbia | Europe & Central Asia | 7.1% | 2025 |
| 59 | Tajikistan | Europe & Central Asia | 6.9% | 2025 |
| 60 | Canada | North America | 6.9% | 2025 |
| 61 | Costa Rica | Latin America & Caribbean | 6.8% | 2025 |
| 62 | Egypt | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 6.8% | 2025 |
| 63 | Lithuania€ | Europe & Central Asia | 6.7% | 2025 |
| 64 | Mozambique | Sub-Saharan Africa | 6.6% | 2025 |
| 65 | Latvia€ | Europe & Central Asia | 6.6% | 2025 |
| 66 | Barbados | Latin America & Caribbean | 6.5% | 2025 |
| 66 | Gambia | Sub-Saharan Africa | 6.5% | 2025 |
| 68 | Italy€ | Europe & Central Asia | 6.4% | 2025 |
| 69 | Luxembourg€ | Europe & Central Asia | 6.3% | 2025 |
| 70 | Central African Republic | Sub-Saharan Africa | 6.3% | 2025 |
| 71 | Channel Islands | Europe & Central Asia | 6.2% | 2025 |
| 72 | Portugal€ | Europe & Central Asia | 6.2% | 2025 |
| 73 | Puerto Rico | Latin America & Caribbean | 6.0% | 2025 |
| 73 | Romania | Europe & Central Asia | 6.0% | 2025 |
| 75 | Eritrea | Sub-Saharan Africa | 6.0% | 2025 |
| 76 | Brazil | Latin America & Caribbean | 6.0% | 2025 |
| 77 | Zambia | Sub-Saharan Africa | 5.9% | 2025 |
| 78 | Belgium€ | Europe & Central Asia | 5.9% | 2025 |
| 79 | Mauritius | Sub-Saharan Africa | 5.6% | 2025 |
| 80 | Austria€ | Europe & Central Asia | 5.6% | 2025 |
| 81 | Guam | East Asia & Pacific | 5.6% | 2025 |
| 82 | Denmark | Europe & Central Asia | 5.5% | 2025 |
| 83 | Azerbaijan | Europe & Central Asia | 5.5% | 2025 |
| 84 | Kenya | Sub-Saharan Africa | 5.5% | 2025 |
| 85 | Pakistan | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 5.4% | 2025 |
| 86 | Slovakia€ | Europe & Central Asia | 5.4% | 2025 |
| 87 | Fiji | East Asia & Pacific | 5.4% | 2025 |
| 88 | Venezuela | Latin America & Caribbean | 5.3% | 2025 |
| 89 | Brunei | East Asia & Pacific | 5.3% | 2025 |
| 90 | Mongolia | East Asia & Pacific | 5.2% | 2025 |
| 91 | Guinea | Sub-Saharan Africa | 5.2% | 2025 |
| 92 | Peru | Latin America & Caribbean | 5.1% | 2025 |
| 93 | Dominican Republic | Latin America & Caribbean | 5.1% | 2025 |
| 94 | New Zealand | East Asia & Pacific | 5.1% | 2025 |
| 95 | Malawi | Sub-Saharan Africa | 5.1% | 2025 |
| 95 | Vanuatu | East Asia & Pacific | 5.1% | 2025 |
| 97 | Nicaragua | Latin America & Caribbean | 5.0% | 2025 |
| 98 | Croatia€ | Europe & Central Asia | 5.0% | 2025 |
| 98 | Samoa | East Asia & Pacific | 5.0% | 2025 |
| 100 | Cyprus€ | Europe & Central Asia | 4.9% | 2025 |
| 100 | Honduras | Latin America & Caribbean | 4.9% | 2025 |
| 102 | Switzerland | Europe & Central Asia | 4.9% | 2025 |
| 103 | Paraguay | Latin America & Caribbean | 4.8% | 2025 |
| 104 | Kazakhstan | Europe & Central Asia | 4.8% | 2025 |
| 105 | United Kingdom | Europe & Central Asia | 4.8% | 2025 |
| 106 | Norway | Europe & Central Asia | 4.6% | 2025 |
| 107 | Ireland€ | Europe & Central Asia | 4.6% | 2025 |
| 108 | China | East Asia & Pacific | 4.6% | 2025 |
| 108 | Uzbekistan | Europe & Central Asia | 4.6% | 2025 |
| 110 | Hungary | Europe & Central Asia | 4.5% | 2025 |
| 111 | Maldives | South Asia | 4.5% | 2025 |
| 112 | DR Congo | Sub-Saharan Africa | 4.4% | 2025 |
| 113 | Turkmenistan | Europe & Central Asia | 4.3% | 2025 |
| 114 | India | South Asia | 4.2% | 2025 |
| 115 | United States | North America | 4.2% | 2025 |
| 116 | Australia | East Asia & Pacific | 4.1% | 2025 |
| 117 | Sri Lanka | South Asia | 4.0% | 2025 |
| 118 | Netherlands€ | Europe & Central Asia | 3.9% | 2025 |
| 119 | Comoros | Sub-Saharan Africa | 3.8% | 2025 |
| 120 | Bangladesh | South Asia | 3.8% | 2025 |
| 121 | Malaysia | East Asia & Pacific | 3.8% | 2025 |
| 122 | Germany€ | Europe & Central Asia | 3.7% | 2025 |
| 123 | Iceland | Europe & Central Asia | 3.6% | 2025 |
| 124 | Cameroon | Sub-Saharan Africa | 3.6% | 2025 |
| 125 | North Korea | East Asia & Pacific | 3.6% | 2025 |
| 126 | Bulgaria€ | Europe & Central Asia | 3.5% | 2025 |
| 127 | Kyrgyzstan | Europe & Central Asia | 3.5% | 2025 |
| 128 | Israel | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 3.5% | 2025 |
| 129 | Burkina Faso | Sub-Saharan Africa | 3.5% | 2025 |
| 130 | Belarus | Europe & Central Asia | 3.4% | 2025 |
| 131 | Trinidad and Tobago | Latin America & Caribbean | 3.3% | 2025 |
| 132 | Ethiopia | Sub-Saharan Africa | 3.3% | 2025 |
| 133 | Ecuador | Latin America & Caribbean | 3.3% | 2025 |
| 134 | El Salvador | Latin America & Caribbean | 3.3% | 2025 |
| 135 | Jamaica | Latin America & Caribbean | 3.3% | 2025 |
| 136 | Oman | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 3.3% | 2025 |
| 137 | Indonesia | East Asia & Pacific | 3.2% | 2025 |
| 138 | Bhutan | South Asia | 3.2% | 2025 |
| 139 | Slovenia€ | Europe & Central Asia | 3.2% | 2025 |
| 140 | Sierra Leone | Sub-Saharan Africa | 3.2% | 2025 |
| 141 | Nigeria | Sub-Saharan Africa | 3.1% | 2025 |
| 142 | Myanmar | East Asia & Pacific | 3.1% | 2025 |
| 143 | Madagascar | Sub-Saharan Africa | 3.0% | 2025 |
| 143 | Saudi Arabia | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 3.0% | 2025 |
| 145 | Ghana | Sub-Saharan Africa | 3.0% | 2025 |
| 145 | Poland | Europe & Central Asia | 3.0% | 2025 |
| 147 | Bolivia | Latin America & Caribbean | 3.0% | 2025 |
| 148 | Malta€ | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 2.9% | 2025 |
| 149 | Liberia | Sub-Saharan Africa | 2.9% | 2025 |
| 150 | Czechia | Europe & Central Asia | 2.8% | 2025 |
| 150 | Mali | Sub-Saharan Africa | 2.8% | 2025 |
| 152 | Singapore | East Asia & Pacific | 2.8% | 2025 |
| 153 | Hong Kong | East Asia & Pacific | 2.8% | 2025 |
| 154 | Uganda | Sub-Saharan Africa | 2.8% | 2025 |
| 155 | Senegal | Sub-Saharan Africa | 2.7% | 2025 |
| 156 | South Korea | East Asia & Pacific | 2.7% | 2025 |
| 157 | Guinea-Bissau | Sub-Saharan Africa | 2.7% | 2025 |
| 157 | Mexico | Latin America & Caribbean | 2.7% | 2025 |
| 159 | Guatemala | Latin America & Caribbean | 2.6% | 2025 |
| 160 | Papua New Guinea | East Asia & Pacific | 2.6% | 2025 |
| 161 | Japan | East Asia & Pacific | 2.5% | 2025 |
| 162 | Macao | East Asia & Pacific | 2.4% | 2025 |
| 163 | Côte d'Ivoire | Sub-Saharan Africa | 2.3% | 2025 |
| 164 | Philippines | East Asia & Pacific | 2.2% | 2025 |
| 165 | Kuwait | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 2.2% | 2025 |
| 166 | United Arab Emirates | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 2.2% | 2025 |
| 167 | Russia | Europe & Central Asia | 2.1% | 2025 |
| 168 | Tonga | East Asia & Pacific | 2.0% | 2025 |
| 169 | Togo | Sub-Saharan Africa | 2.0% | 2025 |
| 170 | Cuba | Latin America & Caribbean | 1.8% | 2025 |
| 171 | Benin | Sub-Saharan Africa | 1.6% | 2025 |
| 171 | Timor-Leste | East Asia & Pacific | 1.6% | 2025 |
| 173 | Tanzania | Sub-Saharan Africa | 1.6% | 2025 |
| 174 | Vietnam | East Asia & Pacific | 1.5% | 2025 |
| 175 | Moldova | Europe & Central Asia | 1.5% | 2025 |
| 176 | Solomon Islands | East Asia & Pacific | 1.4% | 2025 |
| 177 | Laos | East Asia & Pacific | 1.2% | 2025 |
| 178 | Bahrain | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 1.1% | 2025 |
| 179 | Chad | Sub-Saharan Africa | 1.1% | 2025 |
| 180 | Burundi | Sub-Saharan Africa | 0.9% | 2025 |
| 181 | Thailand | East Asia & Pacific | 0.8% | 2025 |
| 182 | Niger | Sub-Saharan Africa | 0.4% | 2025 |
| 183 | Cambodia | East Asia & Pacific | 0.3% | 2025 |
| 184 | Qatar | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan | 0.1% | 2025 |
Where the numbers come from
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original source: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT). Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.