economy
Unemployment Rate
Percentage of the total labour force that is unemployed but actively seeking work. Modelled ILO estimate.
WLDTier 1 Source
Unemployment Rate
Official value (2025): 479.10%
-19.8%in time period
Unemployment Rate growth (2016–2025)
-19.8%in time period
Chart data: 2016: 5.971 % of labour force, 2017: 5.898 % of labour force, 2018: 5.76 % of labour force, 2019: 5.588 % of labour force, 2020: 6.587 % of labour force, 2021: 6.045 % of labour force, 2022: 5.234 % of labour force, 2023: 4.85 % of labour force, 2024: 4.806 % of labour force, 2025: 4.791 % of labour force
Top Countries by Unemployment Rate (2024)
RankCountry% of labour forceShare
#1
Eswatini
34.4
715.79%
#2
South Africa
33.168
690.16%
#3
Djibouti
25.875
538.40%
#4
Botswana
23.138
481.45%
#5
Gabon
20.061
417.43%
#6
Congo, Rep.
19.694
409.79%
#7
Namibia
19.148
398.43%
#8
Somalia, Fed. Rep.
18.861
392.46%
#9
Libya
18.615
387.34%
#10
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
18.056
375.71%
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Unemployment Rate in 2025?
- As of 2025, Unemployment Rate stands at approximately 4.79% % of labour force, based on official data from International Labour Organization. This figure is updated annually and reflects the most recent verified measurement available.
- Which country has the highest Unemployment Rate?
- Eswatini leads the global ranking with 34.40% % of labour force, accounting for 715.8% of the world total. Rankings are published annually by International Labour Organization.
- Is Unemployment Rate increasing or decreasing?
- Unemployment Rate is currently declining at approximately 0.3% per year. This rate is derived from the most recent multi-year trend reported by International Labour Organization.
- What does Unemployment Rate measure?
- Percentage of the total labour force that is unemployed but actively seeking work. Data is collected by International Labour Organization using standardized international methodology across all member countries.
How is this calculated? Read the methodology