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Unemployment
What this indicator measures
The share of people who want to work but have no job, among everyone who works or is looking for work.
How to read this?
Lower is generally better. Measurement methods vary a little from one country to another.
Ranking : ranked from lowest to highest
In brief
The "Unemployment" ranking covers 184 countries and territories. Lowest value: Qatar (0.1 %). Highest value: Eswatini (34.2 %). Median: 5.1 % (data: 2021–2025). The top 10% of countries exceed 13.5 %, while the bottom 10% stay below 2.2 %. By continent, the median is highest in South America (6.6 %) and lowest in Asia (3.8 %).
Median by continent
- South America 6.6 % (12)
- North America 6 % (21)
- Africa 6 % (51)
- Europe 5.6 % (39)
- Oceania 5.1 % (11)
- Asia 3.8 % (48)
Why this indicator matters
The unemployment rate shows what share of the active population cannot find a job. It lets you compare the health of the labor market from one country to another. It is also a social signal: without work, incomes and confidence fall.
What makes this indicator vary
Unemployment rises when activity slows, when companies close or when more young people arrive than there are jobs available. It falls when the economy creates jobs. Education levels, labor rules and the size of the informal sector also play a role.
Reading precautions
A low rate does not mean everyone has a good job: precarious or informal work is not always counted. Definitions and surveys vary from one country to another, so small gaps should be read with caution.
Full ranking
ranked from lowest to highest
| Rank | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1er | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 0.1 % | 2025 |
| 2e | 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 0.3 % | 2025 |
| 3e | 🇳🇪 Niger | 0.4 % | 2025 |
| 4e | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 0.8 % | 2025 |
| 5e | 🇧🇮 Burundi | 0.9 % | 2025 |
| 6e | 🇹🇩 Chad | 1.1 % | 2025 |
| 7e | 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 1.1 % | 2025 |
| 8e | 🇱🇦 Laos | 1.2 % | 2025 |
| 9e | 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 1.4 % | 2025 |
| 10e | 🇲🇩 Moldova | 1.5 % | 2025 |
| 11e | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 1.5 % | 2025 |
| 12e | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 1.6 % | 2025 |
| 13e | 🇧🇯 Benin | 1.6 % | 2025 |
| 14e | 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | 1.6 % | 2025 |
| 15e | 🇨🇺 Cuba | 1.7 % | 2025 |
| 16e | 🇹🇬 Togo | 2 % | 2025 |
| 17e | 🇹🇴 Tonga | 2 % | 2025 |
| 18e | 🇷🇺 Russia | 2.1 % | 2025 |
| 19e | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 2.2 % | 2025 |
| 20e | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 2.2 % | 2025 |
| 21e | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 2.2 % | 2025 |
| 22e | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | 2.3 % | 2025 |
| 23e | 🇲🇴 Macao SAR China | 2.3 % | 2025 |
| 24e | 🇯🇵 Japan | 2.5 % | 2025 |
| 25e | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 2.6 % | 2025 |
| 26e | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 2.6 % | 2025 |
| 27e | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 2.7 % | 2025 |
| 27e | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 2.7 % | 2025 |
| 29e | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 2.7 % | 2025 |
| 30e | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 2.7 % | 2025 |
| 31e | 🇺🇬 Uganda | 2.7 % | 2025 |
| 32e | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China | 2.8 % | 2025 |
| 33e | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 2.8 % | 2025 |
| 34e | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 2.8 % | 2025 |
| 35e | 🇲🇱 Mali | 2.8 % | 2025 |
| 36e | 🇱🇷 Liberia | 2.9 % | 2025 |
| 37e | 🇲🇹 Malta | 2.9 % | 2025 |
| 38e | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 3 % | 2025 |
| 39e | 🇵🇱 Poland | 3 % | 2025 |
| 40e | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 3 % | 2025 |
| 41e | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 3 % | 2025 |
| 42e | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 3 % | 2025 |
| 43e | 🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma) | 3 % | 2025 |
| 44e | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 3.1 % | 2025 |
| 45e | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 3.2 % | 2025 |
| 46e | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 3.2 % | 2025 |
| 47e | 🇧🇹 Bhutan | 3.2 % | 2025 |
| 48e | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 3.2 % | 2025 |
| 49e | 🇴🇲 Oman | 3.3 % | 2025 |
| 50e | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 3.3 % | 2025 |
| 51e | 🇸🇻 El Salvador | 3.3 % | 2025 |
| 52e | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 3.3 % | 2025 |
| 53e | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 3.3 % | 2025 |
| 54e | 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago | 3.3 % | 2025 |
| 55e | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 3.4 % | 2025 |
| 56e | 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 3.5 % | 2025 |
| 57e | 🇮🇱 Israel | 3.5 % | 2025 |
| 58e | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 3.5 % | 2025 |
| 59e | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 3.5 % | 2025 |
| 60e | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 3.5 % | 2025 |
| 61e | 🇨🇲 Cameroon | 3.6 % | 2025 |
| 62e | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 3.6 % | 2025 |
| 63e | 🇩🇪 Germany | 3.7 % | 2025 |
| 64e | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 3.8 % | 2025 |
| 65e | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 3.8 % | 2025 |
| 66e | 🇰🇲 Comoros | 3.8 % | 2025 |
| 67e | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 3.9 % | 2025 |
| 68e | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 4 % | 2025 |
| 69e | 🇦🇺 Australia | 4.1 % | 2025 |
| 70e | 🇺🇸 United States | 4.2 % | 2025 |
| 71e | 🇮🇳 India | 4.2 % | 2025 |
| 72e | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | 4.3 % | 2025 |
| 73e | 🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa | 4.4 % | 2025 |
| 74e | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 4.5 % | 2025 |
| 75e | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 4.5 % | 2025 |
| 76e | 🇨🇳 China | 4.6 % | 2025 |
| 77e | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 4.6 % | 2025 |
| 78e | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 4.6 % | 2025 |
| 79e | 🇳🇴 Norway | 4.6 % | 2025 |
| 80e | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 4.7 % | 2025 |
| 81e | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 4.8 % | 2025 |
| 82e | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 4.8 % | 2025 |
| 83e | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 4.9 % | 2025 |
| 84e | 🇭🇳 Honduras | 4.9 % | 2025 |
| 85e | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 4.9 % | 2025 |
| 86e | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 5 % | 2025 |
| 87e | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 5 % | 2025 |
| 88e | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 5 % | 2025 |
| 89e | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 5.1 % | 2025 |
| 90e | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | 5.1 % | 2025 |
| 91e | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 5.1 % | 2025 |
| 92e | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | 5.1 % | 2025 |
| 93e | 🇵🇪 Peru | 5.1 % | 2025 |
| 94e | 🇬🇳 Guinea | 5.2 % | 2025 |
| 95e | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 5.2 % | 2025 |
| 96e | 🇧🇳 Brunei | 5.3 % | 2025 |
| 97e | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 5.3 % | 2025 |
| 98e | 🇫🇯 Fiji | 5.3 % | 2025 |
| 99e | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 5.4 % | 2025 |
| 100e | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 5.4 % | 2025 |
| 101e | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 5.4 % | 2025 |
| 102e | 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 5.5 % | 2025 |
| 103e | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 5.5 % | 2025 |
| 104e | 🇬🇺 Guam | 5.6 % | 2025 |
| 105e | 🇦🇹 Austria | 5.6 % | 2025 |
| 106e | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 5.6 % | 2025 |
| 107e | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 5.9 % | 2025 |
| 108e | 🇿🇲 Zambia | 5.9 % | 2025 |
| 109e | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 6 % | 2025 |
| 110e | 🇪🇷 Eritrea | 6 % | 2025 |
| 111e | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 6 % | 2025 |
| 112e | 🇷🇴 Romania | 6 % | 2025 |
| 113e | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 6.2 % | 2025 |
| 114e | 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | 6.3 % | 2025 |
| 115e | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 6.3 % | 2025 |
| 116e | 🇮🇹 Italy | 6.4 % | 2025 |
| 117e | 🇬🇲 Gambia | 6.5 % | 2025 |
| 118e | 🇧🇧 Barbados | 6.5 % | 2025 |
| 119e | 🇱🇻 Latvia | 6.6 % | 2025 |
| 120e | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 6.6 % | 2025 |
| 121e | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 6.7 % | 2025 |
| 122e | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 6.8 % | 2025 |
| 123e | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 6.8 % | 2025 |
| 124e | 🇨🇦 Canada | 6.9 % | 2025 |
| 125e | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 6.9 % | 2025 |
| 126e | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 7.1 % | 2025 |
| 127e | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 7.1 % | 2025 |
| 128e | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 7.5 % | 2025 |
| 129e | 🇸🇩 Sudan | 7.5 % | 2022 |
| 130e | 🇫🇷 France | 7.5 % | 2025 |
| 131e | 🇸🇷 Suriname | 7.8 % | 2025 |
| 132e | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 8.3 % | 2025 |
| 133e | 🇮🇷 Iran | 8.3 % | 2025 |
| 134e | 🇪🇪 Estonia | 8.3 % | 2025 |
| 135e | 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | 8.3 % | 2025 |
| 136e | 🇵🇦 Panama | 8.4 % | 2025 |
| 137e | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 8.5 % | 2025 |
| 138e | 🇬🇷 Greece | 8.5 % | 2025 |
| 139e | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 8.7 % | 2025 |
| 140e | 🇧🇿 Belize | 8.9 % | 2025 |
| 141e | 🇨🇱 Chile | 9 % | 2025 |
| 142e | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 9 % | 2025 |
| 143e | 🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe | 9.1 % | 2025 |
| 144e | 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 9.2 % | 2025 |
| 145e | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 9.3 % | 2025 |
| 146e | 🇱🇨 St. Lucia | 9.5 % | 2025 |
| 147e | 🇫🇮 Finland | 9.5 % | 2025 |
| 148e | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 9.8 % | 2021 |
| 149e | 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 10.3 % | 2025 |
| 150e | 🇪🇸 Spain | 10.4 % | 2025 |
| 151e | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 10.5 % | 2025 |
| 152e | 🇦🇱 Albania | 10.9 % | 2025 |
| 153e | 🇱🇧 Lebanon | 11 % | 2023 |
| 154e | 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 11 % | 2025 |
| 155e | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 11.2 % | 2025 |
| 156e | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 11.4 % | 2025 |
| 157e | 🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands | 11.4 % | 2025 |
| 158e | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 11.6 % | 2025 |
| 159e | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 11.7 % | 2025 |
| 160e | 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 11.9 % | 2025 |
| 161e | 🇬🇾 Guyana | 12 % | 2025 |
| 162e | 🇬🇪 Georgia | 12.1 % | 2025 |
| 163e | 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | 12.3 % | 2025 |
| 164e | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 12.9 % | 2025 |
| 165e | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 13.4 % | 2025 |
| 166e | 🇸🇾 Syria | 13.6 % | 2025 |
| 167e | 🇲🇪 Montenegro | 13.6 % | 2025 |
| 168e | 🇦🇴 Angola | 14.1 % | 2025 |
| 169e | 🇭🇹 Haiti | 14.9 % | 2025 |
| 170e | 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 15.1 % | 2025 |
| 171e | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 15.5 % | 2025 |
| 172e | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 16.3 % | 2025 |
| 173e | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 16.5 % | 2025 |
| 174e | 🇾🇪 Yemen | 17.3 % | 2025 |
| 175e | 🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines | 18 % | 2025 |
| 176e | 🇱🇾 Libya | 18.8 % | 2025 |
| 177e | 🇸🇴 Somalia | 18.9 % | 2025 |
| 178e | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 19.3 % | 2025 |
| 179e | 🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville | 19.9 % | 2025 |
| 180e | 🇬🇦 Gabon | 20.2 % | 2025 |
| 181e | 🇧🇼 Botswana | 24.5 % | 2025 |
| 182e | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 26 % | 2025 |
| 183e | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 32.4 % | 2025 |
| 184e | 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 34.2 % | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest value for "Unemployment"?
The highest value is in Eswatini, at 34.2 % (2025).
Which country has the lowest value for "Unemployment"?
The lowest value is in Qatar, at 0.1 % (2025).
What is the world median value of "Unemployment"?
The world median is 5.1 %, calculated across 184 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.
What is the value of "Unemployment" for France?
France scores 7.5 % (2025), ranking 130 out of 184 countries (ranked from lowest to highest).
Where does the "Unemployment" data come from?
It comes from Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.
How is the unemployment rate calculated?
The number of unemployed people is divided by the labor force, meaning those who work plus those looking for a job. People without a job who are not looking for work are not counted as unemployed.
Is a low unemployment rate always a good sign?
Generally yes, but not always. It can hide many precarious, poorly paid or informal jobs, or people who have given up looking. It is best read with other indicators, such as income.
Source and update
Source : Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.
Indicators in the same category : Employment
- Youth unemployment (ages 15-24)The share of 15-24 year-olds without a job among those who work or are looking for work (students not seeking a job are not counted).
- Employment in agricultureThe share of workers whose job is farming, livestock, fishing or forestry.
- Employment in industryThe share of workers employed in factories, mines, construction sites and energy production.
- Employment in servicesThe share of workers employed in services: retail, health, education, banking, transport, restaurants and so on.
- Labor force participation rate (ages 15 and over)The share of people aged 15 and over who work or are looking for a job.
- Employment rate (ages 15 and over)The share of people aged 15 and over who have a job.
- Self-employed workersThe share of workers who work for themselves or run their own business, rather than being employees.