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.

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<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.

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.

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<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.

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 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.

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.

CR: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth Female: % of Female Labour Force Aged 15-24 data was reported at 26.193 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28.515 % for 2023. CR: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth Female: % of Female Labour Force Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 20.471 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2024, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.463 % in 2020 and a record low of 9.431 % in 1992. CR: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth Female: % of Female Labour Force Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.;International Labour Organization. “ILO Modelled Estimates and Projections database (ILOEST)” ILOSTAT. Accessed January 07, 2025. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.;Weighted average;National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

The average for 2023 based on 178 countries was 8.37 percent. The highest value was in Swaziland: 39.35 percent and the lowest value was in Cambodia: 0.27 percent. The indicator is available from 1991 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

SE: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data was reported at 18.528 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.841 % for 2016. SE: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 13.013 % from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2017, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.084 % in 2014 and a record low of 7.814 % in 2001. SE: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

Global Unemployment Insurance market size is expected to reach $138.97 billion by 2029 at 7.1%, segmented as by structural unemployment, skill-based unemployment, geographic unemployment, industry-specific unemployment, long-term unemployment

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.

BG: Employment: % Change data was reported at 4.029 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of -0.644 % for 2016. BG: Employment: % Change data is updated yearly, averaging -0.582 % from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2017, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 25.573 % in 2001 and a record low of -16.910 % in 1992. BG: Employment: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

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.

Slovakia Unemployment Rate: by Education: Higher Professional data was reported at 2.200 % in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.100 % for Mar 2018. Slovakia Unemployment Rate: by Education: Higher Professional data is updated quarterly, averaging 6.400 % from Mar 1996 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 90 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.700 % in Sep 2001 and a record low of 0.900 % in Sep 2017. Slovakia Unemployment Rate: by Education: Higher Professional data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Slovakia – Table SK.G009: Labour Force Survey: Unemployment Rate.

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.

United States US: Unemployment Rate: % Change data was reported at -10.616 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of -8.031 % for 2016. United States US: Unemployment Rate: % Change data is updated yearly, averaging -5.513 % from Dec 1949 (Median) to 2017, with 69 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 89.744 % in 1954 and a record low of -37.402 % in 1951. United States US: Unemployment Rate: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Unemployment Rate: Female: Age 16 to 17 data was reported at 8.600 % in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.000 % for Sep 2018. Unemployment Rate: Female: Age 16 to 17 data is updated monthly, averaging 17.000 % from Jan 1948 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 850 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 36.700 % in Jun 1963 and a record low of 4.700 % in Dec 1948. Unemployment Rate: Female: Age 16 to 17 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.G018: Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate.

As of March 2025, South Africa had the highest unemployment rate among the 19* countries that are members of the G20. The unemployment rate in South Africa stood at **** percent that year. The country has recently been plagued by an economic downturn, including energy shortages and high unemployment levels. On the other hand, Japan had the lowest unemployment rate at just *** percent. Economic inequality in South Africa Not only does South Africa top the G20 in overall unemployment, but it also has a significant level of youth unemployment, as nearly half of the young population is unemployed. Thirty years after the end of Apartheid, South Africa is also still one of the most unequal countries in the world, with a Gini score of ****. The prominence of inequality in the country makes escaping unemployment and underemployment difficult. Japanese economic slowdown While Japan had the lowest unemployment rate out of all G20 nations, as well as the lowest youth unemployment rate out of the G20 nations, Japan’s economy is still facing many challenges. With an aging population, the total Japanese population is facing a rapid decline, meaning that it will struggle to have enough workers participating in the labor market. Despite this, Japan maintains strict immigration policies, limiting the chances for foreign workers to move to Japan. Moreover, Japan has the second lowest fertility rate out of the G7 nations and one of the lowest fertility rates globally, adding another challenge in addressing population shrinkage.

United States US: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 5.791 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.524 % for 2016. United States US: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 6.771 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2017, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.389 % in 2010 and a record low of 4.732 % in 2000. United States US: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an intermediate level of education who are unemployed. Intermediate education comprises upper secondary or post-secondary non tertiary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;