Market Indexes
Precious Metals
Energy
Commodities
Exchange Rates
Interest Rates
Futures
Top Stocks
Stock Screener
Top 100 Dividend Stocks
U.S. Economic Charts
 GDP by Country GDP Per Capita by Country Manufacturing by Country Debt to GDP Ratio by Country
Topic Overview Largest Countries by Population U.S. States by Population U.S. and World Cities by Population

World Unemployment Rate 1960-2024

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
  • World unemployment rate for 2022 was 5.27%, a 0.8% decline from 2021.
  • World unemployment rate for 2021 was 6.06%, a 0.54% decline from 2020.
  • World unemployment rate for 2020 was 6.60%, a 1.01% increase from 2019.
  • World unemployment rate for 2019 was 5.59%, a 0.18% decline from 2018.
  
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Unemployment Rate (%)
Latin America & Caribbean 6.91%
Euro Area 6.75%
Sub-Saharan Africa 6.29%
European Union 6.15%
World 5.27%
South Asia 5.05%
OECD members 4.99%
East Asia & Pacific 4.11%
World Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year Unemployment Rate (%) Annual Change
2022 5.27% -0.80%
2021 6.06% -0.54%
2020 6.60% 1.01%
2019 5.59% -0.18%
2018 5.77% -0.16%
2017 5.93% -0.09%
2016 6.02% -0.03%
2015 6.06% 0.03%
2014 6.02% -0.14%
2013 6.16% -0.06%
2012 6.23% -0.01%
2011 6.24% -0.15%
2010 6.38% -0.12%
2009 6.51% 0.58%
2008 5.93% 0.03%
2007 5.90% -0.21%
2006 6.10% -0.27%
2005 6.37% -0.08%
2004 6.45% -0.12%
2003 6.57% 0.11%
2002 6.47% 0.24%
2001 6.23% 0.09%
2000 6.14% -0.13%
1999 6.27% 0.14%
1998 6.13% 0.17%
1997 5.96% 0.04%
1996 5.91% 0.09%
1995 5.83% 0.15%
1994 5.68% 0.25%
1993 5.42% 0.28%
1992 5.14% 0.15%
1991 4.99% 4.99%
1990 0.00% 0.00%
1989 0.00% 0.00%
1988 0.00% 0.00%
1987 0.00% 0.00%
1986 0.00% 0.00%
1985 0.00% 0.00%
1984 0.00% 0.00%
1983 0.00% 0.00%
1982 0.00% 0.00%
1981 0.00% 0.00%
1980 0.00% 0.00%
1979 0.00% 0.00%
1978 0.00% 0.00%
1977 0.00% 0.00%
1976 0.00% 0.00%
1975 0.00% 0.00%
1974 0.00% 0.00%
1973 0.00% 0.00%
1972 0.00% 0.00%
1971 0.00% 0.00%
1970 0.00% 0.00%
1969 0.00% 0.00%
1968 0.00% 0.00%
1967 0.00% 0.00%
1966 0.00% 0.00%
1965 0.00% 0.00%
1964 0.00% 0.00%
1963 0.00% 0.00%
1962 0.00% 0.00%
1961 0.00% 0.00%
1960 0.00% 0.00%