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<!DOCTYPE HTML><html lang=en><head><meta charset="utf-8"><title>Unemployment rates by country</title><link rel=preconnect href="https://js.worlddata.info"><link rel=dns-prefetch href="https://js.worlddata.info"><link rel=preconnect href="https://cdn.worlddata.info"><link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn.worlddata.info"><link rel=alternate hreflang=de href="https://www.laenderdaten.info/arbeitslosenquoten.php"><link rel=alternate hreflang=en href="https://www.worlddata.info/unemployment-rates.php"><link rel=alternate hreflang=es href="https://www.datosmundial.com/desempleo.php"><link rel=alternate hreflang=pt-BR href="https://www.dadosmundiais.com/desemprego.php"><link rel=alternate hreflang=fr href="https://www.donneesmondiales.com/taux-chomage.php"><link rel=canonical id=canonical href="https://www.worlddata.info/unemployment-rates.php"><meta name=description content="International comparison of the unemployment figures of 75 countries worldwide"><meta name=robots 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href="/the-largest-countries.php">Largest countries</a><a href="/highest-mountains.php">Highest mountains</a><a href="/capital-cities.php">Capital cities</a><a href="/megacities.php">Megacities</a><a href="/biggest-airports.php">Biggest airports</a><a href="/timezones/">Timezones</a><div class=subtitle>Population</div><a href="/populationgrowth.php">Population growth</a><a href="/population-density.php">Population density</a><a href="/average-bodyheight.php">Average body heights</a><a href="/life-expectancy.php">Life expectancy</a><a href="/iq-by-country.php">IQ by country</a><a href="/quality-of-life.php">Quality of life</a><a href="/languages/">Languages</a><a href="/religions/">Religions</a><a href="/refugees-by-country.php">Refugees</a><div class=subtitle>Economy</div><a href="/richest-countries.php">Richest countries</a><a href="/inflation.php">Inflation</a><a href="/unemployment-rates.php">Unemployment rates</a><a href="/average-income.php">Average income</a><a href="/income-taxes.php">Income taxes</a><a href="/cost-of-living.php">Cost of living</a><a href="/tourism.php">Top travel countries</a><a href="/corruption.php">Corruption</a><a href="/tax-havens.php">Tax havens</a><a href="/trade-agreements/">Trade agreements</a><a href="/currencies/">Currencies</a><div class=subtitle>Climate + Nature</div><a href="/earthquakes.php">Earthquakes</a><a href="/volcanoes.php">Volcanoes</a><a href="/cyclones.php">Cyclones</a><a href="/global-warming.php">Global warming</a><a href="/greenhouse-gas-by-country.php">CO2 emissions</a><a href="/climate-comparison.php">Climate comparison</a></div></nav><div class=clear id=navbar data-pos="0" style="background-position:0px 0px;"></div></header><main id=main><div id=intro1><div id=blurbg style="background-image:url(//cdn.worlddata.info/pics/jobless.jpg);"></div><div id=intro3><img class=deko src="//cdn.worlddata.info/pics/jobless.jpg" loading=lazy alt=Unemployment width=320 height=281><div class=floater><h1>International comparison of unemployment rates</h1> The sad listing in the worldwide fight against unemployment is headed by Eswatini, South Africa and Djibouti. The United States ranks 41th in our comparison of 75 countries.<br><br>A bit surprising is the end if the table: Qatar, Cambodia and Niger have an astonishing unemployment rate below one percent. But as always, statistics like this should be taken with caution. Not every country uses the same definition of unemployment. Not having a job and registering as jobless are often different things.</div><div class=clear></div></div></div><div class=boxwhite><div id=map><picture><source srcset="//cdn.worlddata.info/maps/unemployment-dark.png" media="(max-width:380px) and (prefers-color-scheme:dark)"><source srcset="//cdn.worlddata.info/maps/unemployment.png" media="(max-width:380px)"><source srcset="//cdn.worlddata.info/maps/unemployment-dark-720.png" media="(min-width:381px) and (prefers-color-scheme:dark)"><source srcset="//cdn.worlddata.info/maps/unemployment-720.png" media="(min-width:381px)"><img src="//cdn.worlddata.info/maps/unemployment.png" width=360 height=176 alt="Unemployment rates by country"></picture><button id=mapswitch class="preload-spinner" onclick="interactiveMap()">► Interactive map</button></div><script>function interactiveMap(){ addClass('map','spinner'); var d=document,s1=d.createElement('script'); 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function buildTooltip(code,countryname){ if(wd_tooltips[code]){ var tt='<b>'+countryname+'</b>'; ttData=wd_tooltips[code].split(';'); if(ttData[0]){tt+='Unemployment rate: '+ttData[0]+'%'} return tt; } return countryname; }</script></div><div class="adtg bbd" id="adtg-1" data-gptfrmt="bbd" ><ins id=ags1 class=adsbygoogle data-ad-client="ca-pub-0315193065476355" data-ad-slot="2913722277" data-ad-format="horizontal" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins></div><div class=boxwhite><div class="halfbox"><br><table class="std100 hover tabsort sticky"><tr class=no-sort><th class=left>Country/Region</th><th class=right>Unemployment rate</th></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_SWZ" href="/africa/eswatini/index.php">Eswatini</a></td><td class=right>35.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_ZAF" href="/africa/south-africa/index.php">South Africa</a></td><td class=right>32.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_DJI" href="/africa/djibouti/index.php">Djibouti</a></td><td class=right>26.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_PSE" href="/asia/palestine/index.php">Palestine</a></td><td class=right>24.4 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_BWA" href="/africa/botswana/index.php">Botswana</a></td><td class=right>23.4 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_AFG" href="/asia/afghanistan/index.php">Afghanistan</a></td><td class=right>14.0 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_ESP" href="/europe/spain/index.php">Spain</a></td><td class=right>12.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_SDN" href="/africa/sudan/index.php">Sudan</a></td><td class=right>11.4 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_GRC" href="/europe/greece/index.php">Greece</a></td><td class=right>11.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_NPL" href="/asia/nepal/index.php">Nepal</a></td><td class=right>10.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_ALB" href="/europe/albania/index.php">Albania</a></td><td class=right>10.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_TUR" href="/asia/turkey/index.php">Turkey</a></td><td class=right>9.4 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_IRN" href="/asia/iran/index.php">Iran</a></td><td class=right>9.0 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_am fl_BRA" href="/america/brazil/index.php">Brazil</a></td><td class=right>7.9 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_ITA" href="/europe/italy/index.php">Italy</a></td><td class=right>7.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_SWE" href="/europe/sweden/index.php">Sweden</a></td><td class=right>7.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_FRA" href="/europe/france/index.php">France</a></td><td class=right>7.3 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_EGY" href="/africa/egypt/index.php">Egypt</a></td><td class=right>7.3 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_FIN" href="/europe/finland/index.php">Finland</a></td><td class=right>7.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_PRT" href="/europe/portugal/index.php">Portugal</a></td><td class=right>6.5 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_am fl_ARG" href="/america/argentina/index.php">Argentina</a></td><td class=right>6.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_HRV" href="/europe/croatia/index.php">Croatia</a></td><td class=right>6.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_ROU" href="/europe/romania/index.php">Romania</a></td><td class=right>5.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_BEL" href="/europe/belgium/index.php">Belgium</a></td><td class=right>5.5 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_am fl_CAN" href="/america/canada/index.php">Canada</a></td><td class=right>5.4 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_PAK" href="/asia/pakistan/index.php">Pakistan</a></td><td class=right>5.4 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_AUT" href="/europe/austria/index.php">Austria</a></td><td class=right>5.3 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_LUX" href="/europe/luxembourg/index.php">Luxembourg</a></td><td class=right>5.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_DNK" href="/europe/denmark/index.php">Denmark</a></td><td class=right>5.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_CHN" href="/asia/china/index.php">China</a></td><td class=right>4.7 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_BGD" href="/asia/bangladesh/index.php">Bangladesh</a></td><td class=right>4.5 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_IRL" href="/europe/ireland/index.php">Ireland</a></td><td class=right>4.3 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_IND" href="/asia/india/index.php">India</a></td><td class=right>4.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_CHE" href="/europe/switzerland/index.php">Switzerland</a></td><td class=right>4.0 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_SAU" href="/asia/saudi-arabia/index.php">Saudi Arabia</a></td><td class=right>4.0 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_GBR" href="/europe/united-kingdom/index.php">United Kingdom</a></td><td class=right>4.0 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_MYS" href="/asia/malaysia/index.php">Malaysia</a></td><td class=right>3.9 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_oz fl_NZL" href="/oceania/new-zealand/index.php">New Zealand</a></td><td class=right>3.7 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_oz fl_AUS" href="/oceania/australia/index.php">Australia</a></td><td class=right>3.7 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_am fl_USA" href="/america/usa/index.php">United States of America</a></td><td class=right>3.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_CMR" href="/africa/cameroon/index.php">Cameroon</a></td><td class=right>3.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_ISR" href="/asia/israel/index.php">Israel</a></td><td class=right>3.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_NOR" href="/europe/norway/index.php">Norway</a></td><td class=right>3.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_NLD" href="/europe/netherlands/index.php">Netherlands</a></td><td class=right>3.5 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_am fl_ECU" href="/america/ecuador/index.php">Ecuador</a></td><td class=right>3.5 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_SGP" href="/asia/singapore/index.php">Singapore</a></td><td class=right>3.4 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_IDN" href="/asia/indonesia/index.php">Indonesia</a></td><td class=right>3.3 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_RUS" href="/europe/russia/index.php">Russia</a></td><td class=right>3.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_NGA" href="/africa/nigeria/index.php">Nigeria</a></td><td class=right>3.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_DEU" href="/europe/germany/index.php">Germany</a></td><td class=right>3.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_am fl_BOL" href="/america/bolivia/index.php">Bolivia</a></td><td class=right>3.0 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_HKG" href="/asia/hong-kong/index.php">Hong Kong</a> *</td><td class=right>2.9 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_am fl_MEX" href="/america/mexico/index.php">Mexico</a></td><td class=right>2.8 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_POL" href="/europe/poland/index.php">Poland</a></td><td class=right>2.7 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_KOR" href="/asia/south-korea/index.php">South Korea</a></td><td class=right>2.7 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_JPN" href="/asia/japan/index.php">Japan</a></td><td class=right>2.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_am fl_GTM" href="/america/guatemala/index.php">Guatemala</a></td><td class=right>2.3 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_CIV" href="/africa/ivory-coast/index.php">Ivory Coast</a></td><td class=right>2.3 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_MAC" href="/asia/macao/index.php">Macao</a> *</td><td class=right>2.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_PHL" href="/asia/philippines/index.php">Philippines</a></td><td class=right>2.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_ARE" href="/asia/arab-emirates/index.php">United Arab Emirates</a></td><td class=right>2.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_KWT" href="/asia/kuwait/index.php">Kuwait</a></td><td class=right>2.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_am fl_CUB" href="/america/cuba/index.php">Cuba</a></td><td class=right>1.7 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_BEN" href="/africa/benin/index.php">Benin</a></td><td class=right>1.7 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_VNM" href="/asia/vietnam/index.php">Vietnam</a></td><td class=right>1.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_eu fl_MDA" href="/europe/moldova/index.php">Moldova</a></td><td class=right>1.6 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_TLS" href="/asia/east-timor/index.php">East Timor</a></td><td class=right>1.5 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_LAO" href="/asia/laos/index.php">Laos</a></td><td class=right>1.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_BHR" href="/asia/bahrain/index.php">Bahrain</a></td><td class=right>1.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_TCD" href="/africa/chad/index.php">Chad</a></td><td class=right>1.1 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_BDI" href="/africa/burundi/index.php">Burundi</a></td><td class=right>0.9 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_THA" href="/asia/thailand/index.php">Thailand</a></td><td class=right>0.7 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_af fl_NER" href="/africa/niger/index.php">Niger</a></td><td class=right>0.4 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_KHM" href="/asia/cambodia/index.php">Cambodia</a></td><td class=right>0.2 %</td></tr><tr><td><a class="fl_as fl_QAT" href="/asia/qatar/index.php">Qatar</a></td><td class=right>0.1 %</td></tr></table></div><div class=floater><h2>Different interpretations of unemployment</h2> The data mentioned here does not come from the sources published by individual countries, but is modeled data according to the ILOEST model for the years 2021 to 2023. In this model, the individual statistical data of all countries were brought to an internationally comparable denominator as far as possible. The background to this is the very frequent and also very different interpretation of who counts as unemployed in a country.<p>In several European countries, for example, someone is only unemployed if they work less than 15 hours per week, have not yet reached retirement age and are also available to the labor market. In <strong>Germany</strong>, anyone taking part in an employment agency training course is no longer counted because they are not available for work due to the training. Similar labor market programs to reduce the official figures also exist in other countries.<p><img class=mob-img-right src="//cdn.worlddata.info/pics/jobless.jpg" loading=lazy width=320 height=281 alt="Unemployment"> Of course, such definitions of unemployment do not apply everywhere. In <strong>Thailand</strong> (unemployment rate 0.7%), you are only considered unemployed if you have previously worked for at least 6 months subject to tax. In developing and emerging countries in particular, people often work unregistered as quasi-day laborers. Whether you are a construction worker, soup cook, janitor or rice farmer, you are often not registered as a taxable worker, which means that you would not be considered unemployed at the end of such work anyway. <h2>Government incentives to report</h2><strong>South Africa</strong> is at the top end of the table with a recent unemployment rate of 32.1%. In many African countries, there is also state social assistance (to put it crudely) even if you cannot support yourself as a citizen of the country. Anyone who has no verifiable employment for the state or only works as a day laborer or small self-employed person usually registers as unemployed immediately in order to receive state aid.<p>In many low-income countries, however, there are no incentives to register. This is because if there is neither help in finding work nor financial support, there is no reason to register as unemployed in the first place. <br><div class="adtg sky" id="adtg-2" data-gptfrmt="sky"><ins id=ags2 class=adsbygoogle data-ad-client="ca-pub-0315193065476355" data-ad-format="vertical" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins></div><br><h2>Low quotas in very rich countries</h2> The situation is different in traditional working-class countries such as <strong>Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore</strong> and the <strong>United Arab Emirates</strong>: These countries are richer than average. With an equally above-average <a href="/cost-of-living.php">cost of living</a>, it is hardly possible to support oneself there without a steady job. Unlike in <a href="/alliances/european-union.php">EU countries</a>, among others, there is therefore hardly any immigration of financially weak classes. Instead, these countries attract many foreign workers who only live there for several years in order to work. Once the employment relationship has ended, these workers are not considered unemployed, but rather non-existent. This is because the visa expires with the employment relationship and they have to leave the country. <h2>The ILOEST model</h2> The modelled ILO estimates are calculated and harmonized annually by the International Labour Organization <a href="https://ilostat.ilo.org/methods/concepts-and-definitions/ilo-modelled-estimates/" target=_blank rel=noopener>ILOSTAT</a> on the basis of numerous microdata. If data is available for a country, it plays a significant role in the extrapolation, but is not the only decisive factor. In particular, the country-specific exceptions are harmonized here. For many countries, this means that their factors for artificially lowering the official unemployment rate are not taken into account, resulting in higher rates in the ILO model.<p>The reverse effect of significantly lower rates results from the different calculation of the working-age population. Many countries calculate the unemployment rate on the basis of people between the ages of 16 and retirement. However, the ILOEST model includes pensioners and retirees without an age limit, only a very small proportion of whom are looking for work. In addition, people are considered to be in employment even if they only work one hour a week.<p>In total, ILOSTAT arrives at a working-age labor force of 62.08 million in the USA, while other models tend to assume 171.33 million.<p>The system therefore certainly has weaknesses. Nevertheless, it is internationally recognized and is better suited for a cross-national comparison than the inconsistent approaches of the countries themselves.</div><div class=clear></div><br><br><h2 id=dependencies>* Dependent territories</h2>The following countries are not sovereign states, but dependent territories or areas of other states:<ul><li><b>Hong Kong:</b> special administrative region of China</li><li><b>Macao:</b> special administrative region of China</li></ul> Further information on the definition of a country can be found in our article, <a href="/definition-country.php">What is a country?</a></div></main><aside><div class=mteaser><div><a href="/average-income.php"><img src="//cdn.worlddata.info/pics/coins.jpg" loading=lazy width=284 height=130 alt="Comparison: average income">Average income around the world</a>A comparison of the average income per capita over 90 countries worldwide</div><div><a href="/quality-of-life.php"><img src="//cdn.worlddata.info/pics/boracay.jpg" loading=lazy width=284 height=130 alt="Comparison: quality of life">Quality of life in country comparison</a>Compare the quality of life around the globe: In which countries is life pleasant, safe and healthy?</div><div><a href="/cost-of-living.php"><img src="//cdn.worlddata.info/pics/shopping-cart.jpg" loading=lazy width=284 height=130 alt="Comparison: Cost of living">Cost of living in a global comparison</a>Ranking of international living costs from 114 countries compared to the US</div></div><div class="adtg bbd greybg" id="adtg-3" data-gptfrmt="bbd" style="min-height:90px; 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