Unemployment Rate in Afghanistan decreased to 13.30 percent in 2024 from 14 percent in 2023. This dataset provides - Afghanistan Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The unemployment rate in Afghanistan declined to 13.3 percent in 2024. Nevertheless, the last two years recorded a significantly higher unemployment rate than the preceding years.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.Find more key insights for the unemployment rate in countries like Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

Afghanistan unemployment rate for 2024 was 13.30%, a 0.7% decline from 2023.

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

<li>Afghanistan unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>13.99%</strong>, a <strong>0.11% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Afghanistan unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>14.10%</strong>, a <strong>2.11% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Afghanistan unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>11.99%</strong>, a <strong>0.28% 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.

Afghanistan: Unemployment rate for females: The latest value from 2023 is 27.29 percent, an increase from 26.75 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 8.37 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Afghanistan from 1991 to 2023 is 12.32 percent. The minimum value, 10.32 percent, was reached in 2014 while the maximum of 27.29 percent was recorded in 2023.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Afghanistan was reported at 13.3 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Afghanistan - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Afghanistan was reported at 16.69 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Afghanistan - 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.

Afghanistan Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data was reported at -51.503 % in 2021. Afghanistan Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data is updated yearly, averaging -51.503 % from Dec 2021 (Median) to 2021, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of -51.503 % in 2021 and a record low of -51.503 % in 2021. Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan – Table AF.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Afghanistan was reported at 25.64 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Afghanistan - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (SLUEM1524ZSAFG) from 1991 to 2024 about Afghanistan, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

Afghanistan: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2024 is 13.3 percent, a decline from 13.99 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.80 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Afghanistan from 1991 to 2024 is 9.03 percent. The minimum value, 7.75 percent, was reached in 2009 while the maximum of 14.1 percent was recorded in 2022.

Afghanistan Unemployment Rate: YoY data was reported at -51.503 % in 2021. Afghanistan Unemployment Rate: YoY data is updated yearly, averaging -51.503 % from Dec 2021 (Median) to 2021, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of -51.503 % in 2021 and a record low of -51.503 % in 2021. Afghanistan Unemployment Rate: YoY data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Afghanistan – Table AF.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Afghanistan Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 25.636 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 26.570 % for 2023. Afghanistan Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 10.443 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2024, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26.742 % in 2022 and a record low of 10.230 % in 2010. Afghanistan Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: 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 Afghanistan – Table AF.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is 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.

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

Historical dataset showing Afghanistan unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Afghanistan was reported at 5.679 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Afghanistan - Unemployment, total (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Afghanistan Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 13.295 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.991 % for 2023. Afghanistan Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 7.915 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2024, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.100 % in 2022 and a record low of 7.753 % in 2010. Afghanistan Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Afghanistan – Table AF.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is 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.

afghanistan - Youth Unemployment Rate for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was 16.69% in January of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, afghanistan - Youth Unemployment Rate for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan reached a record high of 17.37 in January of 2022 and a record low of 16.05 in January of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for afghanistan - Youth Unemployment Rate for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Afghanistan Unemployment with Basic Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 24.023 % in 2017. Afghanistan Unemployment with Basic Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 24.023 % from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2017, with 1 observations. Afghanistan Unemployment with Basic 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 Afghanistan – Table AF.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 March 2019.; Weighted average;

This line chart displays unemployment (% of total labor force) by date using the aggregation average in Afghanistan. The data is about countries per year.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Afghanistan was reported at 5.73 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Afghanistan - Unemployment, male (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.