The unemployment rate in the World declined to 4.96 percent in 2023. Therefore, 2023 marks the lowest unemployment rate during the observed period. The unemployment rate of a country or region refers to the share of the total workforce that is currently without work, but actively searching for employment. It does not include economically inactive persons, such as children, retirees, or the long-term unemployed.

According to predictions for 2019 to 2025, the unemployment rate will remain relatively stable in most world regions. In 2024 and 2025, it is estimated to be highest in Central and Western Asia followed by Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. On the other hand, it was estimated to be lowest in Southeast Asia and The Pacific.

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

From 2000 until 2019, youth unemployment fluctuated between 13 and 15.5 percent, before it rose above 17 percent in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Youth unemployment Just like the general unemployment rate, youth unemployment is recorded and monitored to gauge the job market situation in a country and worldwide. Youth unemployment includes unemployed individuals aged 15 to 24, typically referring to those who have either just finished school or graduated and are looking for jobs. In order to be registered as unemployed, a person must be able to work, unemployed, and looking for a job. Usually youth unemployment is higher than adult unemployment, as many graduates do not find employment right after they have graduated. Regional breakdown The world region with the highest youth unemployment rate has been the Arab World for the past two decades, while East Asia and the Pacific has generally had the lowest rate. Apart from the sharp rise in 2020, the most notable increase came in 2009 as a result of the Great Recession; while this increase can be observed on a global scale, its impact on youth unemployment was more severely felt in more advanced economies in Europe and North America.

Between 2019 and 2020, the number of unemployed people worldwide increased from 191.93 million to 235.21 million, the biggest annual increase in unemployment in this provided time period. In 2022, the number of people unemployed decreased down to 205.25 million.

Unemployment Rate: Foreign Born data was reported at 4.700 % in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.600 % for Jan 2025. Unemployment Rate: Foreign Born data is updated monthly, averaging 4.800 % from Jan 2007 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 218 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.500 % in Apr 2020 and a record low of 2.600 % in Oct 2019. Unemployment Rate: Foreign Born data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G037: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

The number of unemployed youth worldwide decreased gradually from 2010 to 2019, but then increased in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2024, there were an estimated 64.5 million unemployed youths between 15 and 24 years worldwide. Highest youth unemployment globally The countries with the highest rates of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET) include Niger, Kiribati, Guyana, Somalia, and Afghanistan. While there is geographic diversity in this group, each of these countries are either low-income or low-middle income. Moreover, each has their own set of challenges contributing to high NEET rates. For example, in Afghanistan this can be attributed to conflict and the 2021 Taliban takeover. In Kiribati and other Pacific Island nations, they face high levels of brain drain to larger economies such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Lowest youth unemployment globally On the contrary, countries with the lowest youth NEET rates include Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Iceland, and Malta. Factors such as well-structed vocational training programs and affordable university education contribute to low NEET rates. However, these countries still face their own challenges. For example, one contributing factor to such low NEET rates in Japan is the overall shrinkage of the Japanese population, which is simultaneously aging. While unemployment remains low in the country, it faces the potential crisis of not having enough people to support the labor market.

Unemployment Rate in China increased to 5.40 percent in February from 5.20 percent in January of 2025. This dataset provides - China Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Germany Registered Unemployment Rate: Dependent Labour Force (DL) data was reported at 7.000 % in Feb 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 7.000 % for Jan 2025. Germany Registered Unemployment Rate: Dependent Labour Force (DL) data is updated monthly, averaging 8.600 % from Jan 1991 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 410 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.100 % in Mar 2005 and a record low of 5.300 % in Nov 2019. Germany Registered Unemployment Rate: Dependent Labour Force (DL) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Employment Agency. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G021: Registered Unemployment Rate.

Vietnam Unemployment Rate: Female: Age 20-24 data was reported at 6.680 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.650 % for 2022. Vietnam Unemployment Rate: Female: Age 20-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 7.835 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2023, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.320 % in 2020 and a record low of 5.900 % in 2019. Vietnam Unemployment Rate: Female: Age 20-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Statistics Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.G042: Unemployment Rate: By Age Group: Annual.

United States CBO Projection: Unemployment Rate data was reported at 4.714 % in 2029. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.746 % for 2028. United States CBO Projection: Unemployment Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 4.794 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2029, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.425 % in 2013 and a record low of 3.549 % in 2019. United States CBO Projection: Unemployment Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Congressional Budget Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G022: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate: Projection: Congressional Budget Office.

Romania Unemployment Rate: Female data was reported at 3.400 % in Mar 2019. This stayed constant from the previous number of 3.400 % for Feb 2019. Romania Unemployment Rate: Female data is updated monthly, averaging 5.800 % from Jan 2004 (Median) to Mar 2019, with 183 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.500 % in Jan 2004 and a record low of 3.100 % in Sep 2018. Romania Unemployment Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Romania – Table RO.G015: ILO Unemployment Rate.

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Ecuador Unemployment Rate: Open: Male data was reported at 3.117 % in Jun 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.317 % for Mar 2019. Ecuador Unemployment Rate: Open: Male data is updated quarterly, averaging 3.086 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to Jun 2019, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.788 % in Mar 2016 and a record low of 2.412 % in Dec 2013. Ecuador Unemployment Rate: Open: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics and Census. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ecuador – Table EC.G025: ENEMDU: Unemployment Rate.

United States Unemployment Rate: Foreign Born: Male data was reported at 4.600 % in Feb 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 4.600 % for Jan 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Foreign Born: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 4.550 % from Jan 2007 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 218 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.300 % in Apr 2020 and a record low of 2.100 % in Jun 2019. United States Unemployment Rate: Foreign Born: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G037: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Brazil Unemployment Rate: South: 18 to 24 Years data was reported at 18.800 % in Mar 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.700 % for Dec 2018. Brazil Unemployment Rate: South: 18 to 24 Years data is updated quarterly, averaging 12.600 % from Mar 2012 (Median) to Mar 2019, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.200 % in Mar 2017 and a record low of 7.200 % in Dec 2013. Brazil Unemployment Rate: South: 18 to 24 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table BR.GBA047: Continuous National Household Sample Survey: Unemployment Rate: by Age. It is the percentage of unemployed persons in the week of reference in relation to person at labour force.

United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: OS: excl PH: Personal & Laundry data was reported at 2.700 % in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.900 % for Jan 2025. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: OS: excl PH: Personal & Laundry data is updated monthly, averaging 4.600 % from Jan 2000 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 302 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 34.500 % in Apr 2020 and a record low of 0.300 % in Jun 2019. United States Unemployment Rate: Male: PW: NA: OS: excl PH: Personal & Laundry data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G037: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

As of 2019, the unemployed youth as a share of the total labor force for those aged 15 to 24 years in Saudi Arabia was 28.6 percent. In contrast, the share of unemployed you as share of the total labor force in Qatar was only 0.38 percent. In comparison, the average youth unemployment rate in G20 countries is around 15.9 percent.

Median age The median age of the population in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries ranges from 33.3 years in the United Arab Emirates to 28.3 years in Saudi Arabia. Which is in coherence with the global median age at around 30 years.

Female workforce participation

The labor force participation gender gap in the Middle East and North African countries increases the issue of the high youth unemployment in the region. The female labor force participation in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries is the lowest amongst all Middle East and North African Countries. Which means that only 42 percent of working age women are in employment. In contrast, almost 80 percent of working age women in Jordan are in employment.

Indonesia Unemployment Rate: Half Yearly data was reported at 5.010 % in Feb 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.340 % for Aug 2018. Indonesia Unemployment Rate: Half Yearly data is updated semiannually, averaging 6.320 % from Feb 2005 (Median) to Feb 2019, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.240 % in Aug 2005 and a record low of 5.010 % in Feb 2019. Indonesia Unemployment Rate: Half Yearly data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Indonesia – Table ID.GBA023: Unemployment Rate: by Province.