Data / Labor market / The world

Labor market around the world

The latest figures for 4 indicators in the world, how the countries compare, and the source of each figure.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-11.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate in the world was 4.79% in 2025, down 0.01 percentage points from 2024.

Of 181 countries in 2025, Eswatini had the highest unemployment rate (34.2%) and Qatar the lowest (0.13%).

World, 20254.79%Down 0.01 percentage points from 2024History
Highest, 202534.2%Eswatini
Lowest, 20250.13%Qatar
Eswatini: 34.2 %Eswatini34.2South Africa: 32.39 %South Africa32.39Djibouti: 26.02 %Djibouti26.02Botswana: 24.48 %Botswana24.48Gabon: 20.15 %Gabon20.15Republic of the Congo: 19.88 %Republic of the Congo19.88Namibia: 19.29 %Namibia19.29Somalia: 18.95 %Somalia18.95Libya: 18.76 %Libya18.76Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 18 %Saint Vincent and the Grenadines18
Top 10 countries, 2025. %. Source: World Bank.

Highest and lowest countries

Full ranking of countries. Sources: World Bank, Unemployment, total, % of total labor force, modeled ILO estimate (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS).

Employment-population ratio, ages 15 and over

Employment-population ratio in the world (ages 15 and over) was 58.1% in 2025, down 0.1 percentage points from 2024.

Of 181 countries in 2025, Qatar had the highest employment-population ratio (86.9%) and São Tomé and Príncipe the lowest (21.2%).

World, 202558.1%Down 0.1 percentage points from 2024History
Highest, 202586.9%Qatar
Lowest, 202521.2%São Tomé and Príncipe
Qatar: 86.9 %Qatar86.9Solomon Islands: 83.1 %Solomon Islands83.1Madagascar: 82.9 %Madagascar82.9Tanzania: 82.4 %Tanzania82.4Cambodia: 82.2 %Cambodia82.2Nigeria: 80 %Nigeria80Niger: 79.4 %Niger79.4North Korea: 79.2 %North Korea79.2Uganda: 77.8 %Uganda77.8Burundi: 77.5 %Burundi77.5
Top 10 countries, 2025. %. Source: World Bank.

Highest and lowest countries

Full ranking of countries. Sources: World Bank, Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS).

Labor force participation rate, ages 15 and over

Labor force participation rate in the world (ages 15 and over) was 61% in 2025, down 0.2 percentage points from 2024.

Of 181 countries in 2025, Qatar had the highest labor force participation rate (87%) and São Tomé and Príncipe the lowest (23.3%).

World, 202561%Down 0.2 percentage points from 2024History
Highest, 202587%Qatar
Lowest, 202523.3%São Tomé and Príncipe
Qatar: 87 %Qatar87Madagascar: 85.5 %Madagascar85.5Solomon Islands: 84.3 %Solomon Islands84.3Tanzania: 83.7 %Tanzania83.7Nigeria: 82.5 %Nigeria82.5Cambodia: 82.4 %Cambodia82.4North Korea: 82.2 %North Korea82.2Uganda: 80 %Uganda80Niger: 79.7 %Niger79.7Mozambique: 78.7 %Mozambique78.7
Top 10 countries, 2025. %. Source: World Bank.

Highest and lowest countries

Full ranking of countries. Sources: World Bank, Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS).

Youth unemployment rate (under 25)

Youth unemployment rate in the world was 13.41% in 2025, up 0.11 percentage points from 2024.

Of 181 countries in 2025, Djibouti had the highest youth unemployment rate (76.77%) and Niger the lowest (0.46%).

World, 202513.41%Up 0.11 percentage points from 2024History
Highest, 202576.77%Djibouti
Lowest, 20250.46%Niger
Djibouti: 76.77 %Djibouti76.77South Africa: 59.93 %South Africa59.93Eswatini: 54.33 %Eswatini54.33Libya: 50.06 %Libya50.06Botswana: 46 %Botswana46Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 41.95 %Saint Vincent and the Grenadines41.95Republic of the Congo: 40.5 %Republic of the Congo40.5Jordan: 38.88 %Jordan38.88Tunisia: 38.08 %Tunisia38.08Namibia: 38.05 %Namibia38.05
Top 10 countries, 2025. %. Source: World Bank.

Highest and lowest countries

Full ranking of countries. Sources: World Bank, Unemployment, youth total, % of total labor force ages 15-24, modeled ILO estimate (SL.UEM.1524.ZS).

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Unemployment, total, % of total labor force, modeled ILO estimate (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  2. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  3. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  4. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Unemployment, youth total, % of total labor force ages 15-24, modeled ILO estimate (SL.UEM.1524.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Labor market in other areas

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