From 2000 to 2024, the global employment-to-population ratio decreased steadily, with a significant drop in 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic. The ratio was estimated to reach **** percent in 2025. North America was the region with the highest employment-to-population ratio worldwide in 2023.

This dataset provides values for EMPLOYMENT RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Since 2000, the estimated global employment-to-population ratio decreased more among youth between 15 and 24 years than among the rest of the adult population. Among the former group, the employment rate fell from ** percent in 2000 to an estimated ** percent by 2025, likely explained by an increasing number of young adults going into higher education. The estimated global employment rate in 2025 was ** percent.

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.

In 2024, the employment-to-population ratio worldwide was estimated to be approximately ** percent, indicating that nearly ** percent of the global population above 15 years was employed. Among the provided regions, Africa had the highest employment-to-population ratio, at ** percent, with Europe and Central Asia having the lowest at ** percent. Global income growth As greater portions of the population hold stable employment over time, income has also grown globally. From 1970 until today, North America has seen the largest increase in net national incomes per capita, but this increase has occurred in other regions as well. In terms of real wages, while they have grown over time, they have experienced a slight decrease in light of the high global inflation rates. Decrease in child labor Even though greater proportions of the population are employed, child labor has decreased over time. In 2000, there were *** million children working, which has decreased to *** million by 2020. The majority of working children are in the agricultural sector, especially younger children within the 5-11 and 12-14 age groups.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in Worldwide stood at 4.89 percent. Between 1991 and 2024, the figure dropped by 0.24 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

International comparisons of employment, unemployment and economic inactivity, published monthly. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Since 2000, employment-to-population ratio worldwide was constantly significantly higher among men than among women. Whereas more than ********** of men were estimated to be employed worldwide in 2025, less than **** of women were the same. Moreover, employment rates among both genders fell over the time period, with the decrease being larger among men.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Developing Countries in Europe and Central Asia (SLUEM1524ZSECA) from 1991 to 2024 about Central Asia, Europe, unemployment, and rate.

The statistic shows the unemployment rate in selected world regions between 2019 and 2024. In 2024, the unemployment rate in the Arab World was estimated to have been at 9.46 percent. Unemployment around the globe Following the global financial crisis in 2008, unemployment saw considerable downturns around the globe, most notably in 2009. Unemployment rates, despite experiencing dramatic improvements over the years following the crisis, still have not reached pre-2009 levels for the large majority of countries. The same trend is followed with unemployment among the youth between the ages of 15 and 24, around the world. Many youth experienced layoffs after 2008, mainly because their skills were interchangeable and easily replaceable and as a result, youth unemployment increased, although the situation has improved slightly. The unemployment rate in selected world regions remained relatively stagnant year-over-year from 2012 to 2013, however is expected to improve over the long run based on current employment trends. Economic improvement around the world is primarily evident from growth of real gross domestic product , which has been relatively positive in most countries with the exception of those in the euro area. Growth of real gross domestic product points to economic growth as well as a higher productivity within each country. On the other hand, other indicators of economic health, such as inflation, point to further economic distraught, as inflation is expected to increase globally, most prominently in non-developed countries.

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

The average for 2024 based on 56 countries was 5.13 percent. The highest value was in Spain: 11.39 percent and the lowest value was in Qatar: 0.13 percent. The indicator is available from 1991 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Employment in services (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in World was reported at 50.23 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - Employment in services (% of total employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Yemen Unemployment Rate: World Bank data was reported at 12.934 % in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.175 % for 2017. Yemen Unemployment Rate: World Bank data is updated yearly, averaging 11.702 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2018, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.023 % in 2015 and a record low of 7.981 % in 1992. Yemen Unemployment Rate: World Bank data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data. The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table YE.G004: Unemployment Rate. The World Bank provides monthly Unemployment Rate.

This dataset provides values for LONG TERM UNEMPLOYMENT RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

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.

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

Employment in industry (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in World was reported at 23.69 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - Employment in industry (% of total employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

The table shows the latest data for the unemployment rate available from the national authorities. Note that these numbers are updated daily. The table also shows the unemployment rate three months ago and one year ago. The unemployment rate is defined as the number of people who don't have a job and are actively look for one as percent of the labor force. The labor force includes the employed and the unemployed people. Note that these categories do not include the so-called discouraged workers. These are people who can work and want to work but are not actively looking as they believe that they cannot find a job. Hence, besides unemployment, it is also useful to look at employment in order to evaluate the health of the labor market. The unemployment rate includes three components: the structural unemployment that is generated as some sectors of the economy decline and others expand; the frictional unemployment that captures people who are between jobs for personal reasons; and the cyclical unemployment that is related to the business cycle. The more flexible the labor market in terms of hiring and firing and setting wages, the lower the first two components of the unemployment rate. If interested, you can read our brief article on unemployment.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for the United States (SLUEM1524ZSUSA) from 1991 to 2024 about 15 to 24 years, unemployment, rate, and USA.