Unemployment Rate in Pakistan increased to 5.50 percent in 2024 from 5.40 percent in 2023. This dataset provides - Pakistan Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Pakistan Unemployment Rate: Urban data was reported at 7.230 % in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.980 % for 2015. Pakistan Unemployment Rate: Urban data is updated yearly, averaging 7.950 % from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2018, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.920 % in 2001 and a record low of 4.580 % in 1990. Pakistan Unemployment Rate: Urban data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.G002: Labour Force Survey: Population, Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment. No data for 2016-2017 as per source. Labour Force Survey has not been conducted for these two years due to Population Census.

Key information about Pakistan Unemployment Rate

• Pakistan Unemployment Rate dropped to 6.30% in Jun 2021, from the previously reported figure of 6.90% in Jun 2019.
• Pakistan Unemployment Rate is updated yearly, available from Jun 1980 to Jun 2021, with an average rate of 5.80%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 8.27% in Jun 2003 and a record low of 3.04% in Jun 1986.
• The data is reported by reported by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
• In the latest reports, Pakistan Population reached 241.50 million people in Jun 2023.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in Pakistan was at approximately 5.47 percent, a slight increase from 5.41 percent the previous year. Unemployment as an economic key indicatorThe unemployment rate of a country represents the share of people without a job in the country’s labor force, i.e. unemployed persons among those who are able and/or willing to work. Among other factors, it takes population growth into account, and thus increases in the labor force, as well as the age of the population. A high unemployment rate usually indicates economic troubles, with a popular example being Greece, where the unemployment rate skyrocketed from 7.76 percent in 2008 to 27.5 percent as a result of the Great Recession. From plowshares to keyboardsWhile Pakistan’s unemployment slumped below the one percent mark in 2010, it is now on the rise again and currently standing at just over four percent. Traditionally, most Pakistanis work in agriculture however, the lion’s share of the country’s GDP is generated by services, like tourism, banking, and IT. While agriculture is still important for Pakistan’s economy, the services sector is gaining ground in the country, and more and more people are moving to urban areas from the countryside to find jobs in the cities.

The youth unemployment rate in Pakistan was 9.86 percent in 2024. Between 1991 and 2024, the youth unemployment rate rose by 8.89 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Pakistan (SLUEM1524ZSPAK) from 1991 to 2024 about Pakistan, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate: % Change data was reported at 34.534 % in Jun 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 29.246 % for Mar 2015. Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate: % Change data is updated quarterly, averaging -11.893 % from Mar 2014 (Median) to Jun 2015, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 34.534 % in Jun 2015 and a record low of -55.348 % in Jun 2014. Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Quarterly.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 7.325 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Pakistan: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2024 is 5.47 percent, an increase from 5.41 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.80 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Pakistan from 1991 to 2024 is 2 percent. The minimum value, 0.4 percent, was reached in 2007 while the maximum of 6.34 percent was recorded in 2021.

Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data was reported at -35.193 % in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.143 % for 2011. Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 % from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2014, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 103.226 % in 1991 and a record low of -35.193 % in 2014. Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force with advanced education) in Pakistan was reported at 16.15 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment with advanced education (% of total unemployment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Pakistan: Unemployment rate forecast: The latest value from 2030 is 5 percent, unchanged from 5 percent in 2029. In comparison, the world average is 6.28 percent, based on data from 100 countries. Historically, the average for Pakistan from 1983 to 2030 is 5.84 percent. The minimum value, 3.07 percent, was reached in 1987 while the maximum of 8.5 percent was recorded in 2023.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 6.338 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment, total (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 9.858 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 5.472 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Pakistan Unemployment Rate: Rural data was reported at 5.030 % in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.010 % for 2015. Pakistan Unemployment Rate: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 5.010 % from Jun 1990 (Median) to 2018, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.550 % in 2003 and a record low of 2.600 % in 1990. Pakistan Unemployment Rate: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.G002: Labour Force Survey: Population, Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment. No data for 2016-2017 as per source. Labour Force Survey has not been conducted for these two years due to Population Census.

This statistic presents the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 to 24 years in Pakistan from 2005 to 2016. In 2016, approximately **** percent of the labor force aged 15 to 24 years in Pakistan were unemployed.

The number of unemployed persons in Pakistan decreased to 4510 Thousand in 2021 from 4710 Thousand in 2019. This dataset provides - Pakistan Unemployed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data was reported at -5.755 % in Jun 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of -20.515 % for Mar 2015. Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data is updated quarterly, averaging -5.259 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to Jun 2015, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 109.869 % in Sep 2014 and a record low of -20.515 % in Mar 2015. Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Pakistan – Table PK.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Quarterly.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Pakistan was reported at 10.08 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Pakistan - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.