In 2024, the unemployment rate in the World remained nearly unchanged at around 4.89 percent. But still, the unemployment rate reached its lowest value of the observation period in 2024. The unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population currently without work but in search of employment. The unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed, children, or retirees.

World unemployment rate for 2024 was 4.89%, a 0.02% decline from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>World unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>4.92%</strong>, a <strong>0.34% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>World unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>5.26%</strong>, a <strong>0.8% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>World unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>6.06%</strong>, a <strong>0.54% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>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.

The average for 2025 based on 101 countries was 6.64 percent. The highest value was in Sudan: 61.99 percent and the lowest value was in Thailand: 1 percent. The indicator is available from 1980 to 2030. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

World youth unemployment rate for 2024 was 13.57%, a 0.01% increase from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>World youth unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>13.56%</strong>, a <strong>0.64% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>World youth unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>14.20%</strong>, a <strong>1.48% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>World youth unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>15.68%</strong>, a <strong>1.44% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.

In 2023, South Africa had the highest unemployment rate in the world, at 32.1 percent. Of the 10 countries with the highest unemployment rates, six were in Sub-Saharan Africa. What exactly is unemployment? The unemployment rate is the number of people in the workforce currently looking for jobs but not working. This number does not include students and retirees, as they are not looking for work, nor does it include people who have given up on finding a job (known as discouraged workers). Comparing international unemployment rates can be problematic, however, as different countries use different methodologies when classifying unemployment. For example, Niger records the third lowest unemployment rate in the world, despite often being listed as the least developed country worldwide - this is because the majority of the population engage in subsistence farming, with very little opportunity for paid employment. Causes of unemployment in less developed countries A major driver in unemployment in these countries is conflict. In particular, internally displaced persons (IDPs) want to work, but moving to another part of the country disrupts their business network and moves them into a local economy with different labor demand. Countries with low levels of economic development, as roughly indicated by a low GDP per capita, often have fewer labor market opportunities, leading to high unemployment rates.

The global youth unemployment rate increased somewhat since the beginning of the millennium. It was at its highest during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2023, global youth unemployment was at **** percent.

Historical chart and dataset showing U.S. unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

The global youth unemployment rate was constantly higher among women than men between 2000 and 2023. It was at its highest for both genders during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2023, global youth unemployment was at 13 percent among men and 15 percent among women.

Russia unemployment rate for 2024 was 2.53%, a 0.55% decline from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Russia unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>3.08%</strong>, a <strong>0.79% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Russia unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>3.87%</strong>, a <strong>0.88% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Russia unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>4.75%</strong>, a <strong>0.87% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Switzerland unemployment rate for 2024 was 4.11%, a 0.07% increase from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Switzerland unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>4.04%</strong>, a <strong>0.08% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Switzerland unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>4.12%</strong>, a <strong>0.89% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Switzerland unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>5.01%</strong>, a <strong>0.2% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Key information about Georgia Unemployment Rate

• Georgia Unemployment Rate dropped to 16.40% in Dec 2023, from the previously reported figure of 17.26% in Dec 2022.
• Georgia Unemployment Rate is updated yearly, available from Dec 1991 to Dec 2023, with an average rate of 16.40%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 27.20% in Dec 2010 and a record low of 0.20% in Dec 1991.
• The data is reported by reported by National Statistics Office of Georgia.
• In the latest reports, Georgia Population reached 3.69 million people in Dec 2023.

Historical chart and dataset showing Poland unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

The statistic shows the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2023. The UK's unemployment rate decreased to 3.98 percent in 2023. Unemployment and the economy of the United Kingdom The global financial crisis of 2008 left many nations with high inflation and increasing unemployment rates. The United Kingdom, however, has attempted and successfully lowered the unemployment rate since 2009. The UK is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Council of Europe, the G7, the G8, the G20, NATO, and World Trade Organization. It is therefore one of the biggest and most important economic powers in the world. It consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in 2014, the UK population amounted to over 64 million people. The same year, it reported the sixth largest gross domestic product in the world, reaching more than 2.8 billion U.S. dollars - and with a prospering economy, its GDP is on the upswing: It is estimated that the GDP in the United Kingdom will grow by approximately 3 percent in 2015 in comparison to the previous year. Regarding unemployment, the UK has never been "typically European". Europe's unemployment rate has been relatively high in comparison to other world regions; the unemployment rate in developed countries and the European Union in 2014 was around 7.8 percent. Meanwhile, the global unemployment rate in 2014 was an estimated 5.9 percent. Despite reporting the third highest unemployment rate in major industrial and emerging countries, behind France and India, the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom is much lower than the European Union rate.

Unemployment Rate in China decreased to 5 percent in May from 5.10 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - China Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Russia Unemployment Rate: Male data was reported at 2.800 % in Feb 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.800 % for Jan 2024. Russia Unemployment Rate: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 5.435 % from Aug 2009 (Median) to Feb 2024, with 175 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.900 % in Jan 2010 and a record low of 2.754 % in Sep 2023. Russia Unemployment Rate: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Demographic and Labour Market – Table RU.GB007: Unemployment Rate.

Key information about Greece Unemployment Rate

• Greece Unemployment Rate increased to 11.20% in Apr 2023, from the previously reported figure of 11.10% in Mar 2023.
• Greece Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Apr 1998 to Apr 2023, with an average rate of 12.30%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 28.20% in Jul 2013 and a record low of 7.50% in May 2008.
• The data is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, Greece Population reached 10.68 million people in Dec 2020.

France unemployment rate for 2024 was 7.37%, a 0.04% increase from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>France unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>7.34%</strong>, a <strong>0.03% increase</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>France unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>7.31%</strong>, a <strong>0.57% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>France unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>7.87%</strong>, a <strong>0.14% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Nigeria unemployment rate for 2023 was 3.07%, a 0.75% decline from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Nigeria unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>3.83%</strong>, a <strong>1.57% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Nigeria unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>5.39%</strong>, a <strong>0.32% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Nigeria unemployment rate for 2020 was <strong>5.71%</strong>, a <strong>0.51% increase</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

The average for 2023 based on 178 countries was 6.42 percent. The highest value was in Swaziland: 36.1 percent and the lowest value was in Qatar: 0.08 percent. The indicator is available from 1991 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.