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.

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

In 2023, the unemployment rate in Pakistan was at approximately 5.41 percent, a slight decrease from 5.49 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.

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.

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.

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.

The youth unemployment rate in Pakistan increased by 0.2 percentage points (+2.06 percent) compared to the previous year. In total, the youth unemployment rate amounted to 9.86 percent in 2024. This increase was preceded by a declining youth unemployment rate.The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population aged 15 to 24 currently without work but in search of employment. The youth unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Nepal and Afghanistan.

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 June of 2025.

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 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 July of 2025.

Pakistan youth unemployment rate for 2024 was 9.86%, a 0.15% increase from 2023.

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

<li>Pakistan youth unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>9.71%</strong>, a <strong>0.04% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Pakistan youth unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>9.75%</strong>, a <strong>1.3% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Pakistan youth unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>11.05%</strong>, a <strong>0.22% increase</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.

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 June of 2025.

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.

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.

Pakistan: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2023 is 5.5 percent, a decline from 5.55 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 6.99 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Pakistan from 1991 to 2023 is 1.89 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 data was reported at 3.604 % in Jun 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.824 % for Mar 2015. Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.217 % from Sep 2012 (Median) to Jun 2015, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.500 % in Dec 2012 and a record low of 2.679 % in Jun 2014. Pakistan PK: Unemployment Rate 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.

This statistic presents the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 to 24 years in Pakistan from 2005 to 2016. In 2016, approximately 10.7 percent of the labor force aged 15 to 24 years in Pakistan were unemployed.

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 June 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.