Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Counties in North Dakota

Counties in North Dakota by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Sioux County had the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 53 counties in 2021, at 18.4%. Foster County had the lowest, at 0.1%. The median was 2.5% and the figure for North Dakota was 3.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest18.4Sioux County
Lowest0.1Foster County
Median2.553 counties
North Dakota3.2History

Map of counties, 2021

Adams County: 0.8 %Barnes County: 3.4 %Benson County: 3.3 %Billings County: 2.4 %Bottineau County: 4 %Bowman County: 4 %Burke County: 2.5 %Burleigh County: 2.9 %Cass County: 3 %Cavalier County: 1.9 %Dickey County: 3.3 %Divide County: 3.7 %Dunn County: 2.4 %Eddy County: 1.7 %Emmons County: 1.3 %Foster County: 0.1 %Golden Valley County: 3.3 %Grand Forks County: 3.8 %Grant County: 2.2 %Griggs County: 2 %Hettinger County: 3.7 %Kidder County: 0.8 %LaMoure County: 1.5 %Logan County: 1 %McHenry County: 4.2 %McIntosh County: 0.6 %McKenzie County: 2.2 %McLean County: 1.6 %Mercer County: 3 %Morton County: 2.5 %Mountrail County: 3.8 %Nelson County: 1.1 %Oliver County: 3.7 %Pembina County: 3.9 %Pierce County: 0.8 %Ramsey County: 0.8 %Ransom County: 2.7 %Renville County: 2 %Richland County: 3 %Rolette County: 7.8 %Sargent County: 1.3 %Sheridan County: 0.6 %Sioux County: 18.4 %Slope County: 4.9 %Stark County: 2.7 %Steele County: 2.1 %Stutsman County: 4.7 %Towner County: 3.3 %Traill County: 2.1 %Walsh County: 2.4 %Ward County: 4.3 %Wells County: 1.4 %Williams County: 3.1 %
  • Under 1.2
  • 1.2 to 2
  • 2 to 2.5
  • 2.5 to 3.3
  • 3.3 to 3.9
  • 3.9 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2021

Sioux County: 18.4 %Sioux County18.4Rolette County: 7.8 %Rolette County7.8Slope County: 4.9 %Slope County4.9Stutsman County: 4.7 %Stutsman County4.7Ward County: 4.3 %Ward County4.3McHenry County: 4.2 %McHenry County4.2Bowman County: 4 %Bowman County4Bottineau County: 4 %Bottineau County4Pembina County: 3.9 %Pembina County3.9Mountrail County: 3.8 %Mountrail County3.8Grand Forks County: 3.8 %Grand Forks County3.8Hettinger County: 3.7 %Hettinger County3.7Divide County: 3.7 %Divide County3.7Oliver County: 3.7 %Oliver County3.7Barnes County: 3.4 %Barnes County3.4Benson County: 3.3 %Benson County3.3Golden Valley County: 3.3 %Golden Valley County3.3Towner County: 3.3 %Towner County3.3Dickey County: 3.3 %Dickey County3.3Williams County: 3.1 %Williams County3.1Mercer County: 3 %Mercer County3Cass County: 3 %Cass County3Richland County: 3 %Richland County3Burleigh County: 2.9 %Burleigh County2.9Ransom County: 2.7 %Ransom County2.7Stark County: 2.7 %Stark County2.7Morton County: 2.5 %Morton County2.5Burke County: 2.5 %Burke County2.5Dunn County: 2.4 %Dunn County2.4Billings County: 2.4 %Billings County2.4Walsh County: 2.4 %Walsh County2.4McKenzie County: 2.2 %McKenzie County2.2Grant County: 2.2 %Grant County2.2Traill County: 2.1 %Traill County2.1Steele County: 2.1 %Steele County2.1Griggs County: 2 %Griggs County2Renville County: 2 %Renville County2Cavalier County: 1.9 %Cavalier County1.9Eddy County: 1.7 %Eddy County1.7McLean County: 1.6 %McLean County1.6LaMoure County: 1.5 %LaMoure County1.5Wells County: 1.4 %Wells County1.4Emmons County: 1.3 %Emmons County1.3Sargent County: 1.3 %Sargent County1.3Nelson County: 1.1 %Nelson County1.1Logan County: 1 %Logan County1Kidder County: 0.8 %Kidder County0.8Adams County: 0.8 %Adams County0.8Ramsey County: 0.8 %Ramsey County0.8Pierce County: 0.8 %Pierce County0.8Sheridan County: 0.6 %Sheridan County0.6McIntosh County: 0.6 %McIntosh County0.6Foster County: 0.1 %Foster County0.1Sioux County: 18.4 %Sioux County18.4Rolette County: 7.8 %Rolette County7.8Slope County: 4.9 %Slope County4.9Stutsman County: 4.7 %Stutsman County4.7Ward County: 4.3 %Ward County4.3McHenry County: 4.2 %McHenry County4.2Bowman County: 4 %Bowman County4Bottineau County: 4 %Bottineau County4Pembina County: 3.9 %Pembina County3.9Mountrail County: 3.8 %Mountrail County3.8Grand Forks County: 3.8 %Grand Forks County3.8Hettinger County: 3.7 %Hettinger County3.7Divide County: 3.7 %Divide County3.7Oliver County: 3.7 %Oliver County3.7Barnes County: 3.4 %Barnes County3.4Benson County: 3.3 %Benson County3.3Golden Valley County: 3.3 %Golden Valley County3.3Towner County: 3.3 %Towner County3.3Dickey County: 3.3 %Dickey County3.3Williams County: 3.1 %Williams County3.1Mercer County: 3 %Mercer County3Cass County: 3 %Cass County3Richland County: 3 %Richland County3Burleigh County: 2.9 %Burleigh County2.9Ransom County: 2.7 %Ransom County2.7Stark County: 2.7 %Stark County2.7Morton County: 2.5 %Morton County2.5Burke County: 2.5 %Burke County2.5Dunn County: 2.4 %Dunn County2.4Billings County: 2.4 %Billings County2.4Walsh County: 2.4 %Walsh County2.4McKenzie County: 2.2 %McKenzie County2.2Grant County: 2.2 %Grant County2.2Traill County: 2.1 %Traill County2.1Steele County: 2.1 %Steele County2.1Griggs County: 2 %Griggs County2Renville County: 2 %Renville County2Cavalier County: 1.9 %Cavalier County1.9Eddy County: 1.7 %Eddy County1.7McLean County: 1.6 %McLean County1.6LaMoure County: 1.5 %LaMoure County1.5Wells County: 1.4 %Wells County1.4Emmons County: 1.3 %Emmons County1.3Sargent County: 1.3 %Sargent County1.3Nelson County: 1.1 %Nelson County1.1Logan County: 1 %Logan County1Kidder County: 0.8 %Kidder County0.8Adams County: 0.8 %Adams County0.8Ramsey County: 0.8 %Ramsey County0.8Pierce County: 0.8 %Pierce County0.8Sheridan County: 0.6 %Sheridan County0.6McIntosh County: 0.6 %McIntosh County0.6Foster County: 0.1 %Foster County0.1
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Sioux County18.4
2Rolette County7.8
3Slope County4.9
4Stutsman County4.7
5Ward County4.3
6McHenry County4.2
7Bowman County4
8Bottineau County4
9Pembina County3.9
10Mountrail County3.8
11Grand Forks County3.8
12Hettinger County3.7
13Divide County3.7
13Oliver County3.7
15Barnes County3.4
16Benson County3.3
16Golden Valley County3.3
18Towner County3.3
19Dickey County3.3
20Williams County3.1
21Mercer County3
22Cass County3
22Richland County3
24Burleigh County2.9
25Ransom County2.7
26Stark County2.7
27Morton County2.5
28Burke County2.5
29Dunn County2.4
30Billings County2.4
31Walsh County2.4
32McKenzie County2.2
33Grant County2.2
34Traill County2.1
35Steele County2.1
36Griggs County2
36Renville County2
38Cavalier County1.9
39Eddy County1.7
40McLean County1.6
41LaMoure County1.5
42Wells County1.4
43Emmons County1.3
44Sargent County1.3
45Nelson County1.1
46Logan County1
47Kidder County0.8
48Adams County0.8
49Ramsey County0.8
50Pierce County0.8
51Sheridan County0.6
52McIntosh County0.6
53Foster County0.1

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed civilians aged 16 and over as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

An average over five years of survey responses, so it moves slowly. The official monthly and annual rates for states and counties are unemployment_rate, from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in North Dakota by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in North Dakota by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-dakota-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in North Dakota by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-dakota-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in North Dakota by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-dakota-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_dakota_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in North Dakota by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-dakota-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in North Dakota by unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-dakota-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/unemployment-rate-acs/north-dakota-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Sioux County, with 18.4% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Foster County, with 0.1% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force aged 16 and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Unemployment rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in North Dakota: more rankings