Unemployment Rate by Country 2026

This page displays the latest Unemployment Rate by Country rankings, comparing unemployment levels across economies worldwide. Explore the global unemployment map, full country rankings, comparison charts, and the latest data on countries with the highest and lowest unemployment rates.

See Also:

🌍 World Unemployment Map

Click any country to view full Unemployment, rank, and continent. Zoom, then drag the map to move left or right.

Low Medium High Very High Top
Top Ranked
🇸🇩Sudan
61.3%
Least Ranked
🇶🇦Qatar
0.2%
Map could not load. Please check Leaflet/GeoJSON CDN access or browser console errors.
0
🇨🇲Cameroon
57%
#2
🇸🇿Eswatini
34.4%
#3
🇿🇦South Africa
32.5%
#4
🇩🇯Djibouti
25.9%
#5
🇧🇼Botswana
23.2%
#6
🇯🇴Jordan
21.3%
#7

World Unemployed People Live Counter (2026)

The World Unemployed People Live Counter tracks the estimated global unemployed population. Around 186 million people are currently unemployed worldwide, with the total projected to reach approximately 188 million by the end of 2026.

🌍 World Unemployed People Live Counter

Estimated This Year 1,174,985
Today2,383
This Week2,383
This Month13,342
Per Second0
Per Minute0
Estimated End Year Total2,000,000
Source
Quick facts:
  • Figures shown are live estimates based on the most recent available data.
  • Estimated this year, today, week, and month counters update continuously.
  • Per Second resets every second, and Per Minute resets every minute.
  • Exact real-time values cannot be known with complete certainty, so counters are estimates.
Source:

Unemployment Rate by Country Rankings

# Country Unemployment Rate Continent Unit
1
🇸🇩Sudan
 61.3% Africa %
2
🇨🇲Cameroon
 57% Africa %
3
🇸🇿Eswatini
 34.4% Africa %
4
🇿🇦South Africa
 32.5% Africa %
5
🇩🇯Djibouti
 25.9% Africa %
6
🇧🇼Botswana
 23.2% Africa %
7
🇯🇴Jordan
 21.3% Asia %
8
🇬🇦Gabon
 20.1% Africa %
9
🇨🇬Congo
 19.7% Africa %
10
🇳🇦Namibia
 19.2% Africa %
11
🇸🇴Somalia
 18.9% Africa %
12
🇱🇾Libya
 18.7% Africa %
13
🇻🇨Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
 18.1% North America %
14
🇾🇪Yemen
 17.1% Asia %
15
🇹🇳Tunisia
 16.3% Africa %
16
🇱🇸Lesotho
 16.2% Africa %
17
🇮🇶Iraq
 15.6% Asia %
18
🇭🇹Haiti
 15.1% North America %
19
🇦🇴Angola
 14.5% Africa %
20
🇲🇪Montenegro
 14.1% Europe %
21
🇬🇪Georgia
 13.9% Asia %
22
🇦🇫Afghanistan
 13.3% Asia %
23
🇸🇾Syria
 13% Asia %
24
🇦🇲Armenia
 12.8% Asia %
25
🇧🇦Bosnia and Herzegovina
 12.6% Europe %
26
🇲🇦Morocco
 12.2% Africa %
27
🇻🇮U.S. Virgin Islands
 12.1% North America %
28
🇷🇼Rwanda
 12% Africa %
29
🇵🇫French Polynesia
 11.8% Oceania %
30
🇹🇯Tajikistan
 11.7% Asia %
31
🇲🇰North Macedonia
 11.5% Europe %
32
🇩🇿Algeria
 11.5% Africa %
33
🇳🇨New Caledonia
 11.2% Oceania %
34
🇱🇨Saint Lucia
 11% North America %
35
🇳🇵Nepal
 10.8% Asia %
36
🇵🇦Panama
 10.4% North America %
37
🇲🇷Mauritania
 10.4% Africa %
38
🇺🇦Ukraine
 10.2% Europe %
39
🇬🇾Guyana
 10.2% South America %
40
🇪🇸Spain
 9.8% Europe %
41
🇫🇮Finland
 9.6% Europe %
42
🇧🇸Bahamas
 9.4% North America %
43
🇮🇷Iran
 9.2% Asia %
44
🇸🇹Sao Tome and Principe
 9.2% Africa %
45
🇨🇴Colombia
 9% South America %
46
🇸🇷Suriname
 9% South America %
47
🇷🇸Serbia
 8.8% Europe %
48
🇦🇱Albania
 8.7% Europe %
49
🇸🇪Sweden
 8.6% Europe %
50
🇿🇼Zimbabwe
 8.6% Africa %
51
🇨🇻Cape Verde
 8.5% Africa %
52
🇹🇷Turkey
 8.3% Asia %
53
🇨🇱Chile
 8.1% South America %
54
🇺🇾Uruguay
 8% South America %
55
🇫🇷France
 7.9% Europe %
56
🇬🇶Equatorial Guinea
 7.9% Africa %
57
🇪🇬Egypt
 7.4% Africa %
58
🇬🇷Greece
 7.4% Europe %
59
🇪🇪Estonia
 7.3% Europe %
60
🇦🇷Argentina
 7.2% South America %
61
🇨🇷Costa Rica
 7% North America %
62
🇵🇰Pakistan
 6.9% Asia %
63
🇧🇧Barbados
 6.8% North America %
64
🇧🇷Brazil
 6.8% South America %
65
🇭🇳Honduras
 6.8% North America %
66
🇱🇻Latvia
 6.7% Europe %
67
🇨🇦Canada
 6.5% North America %
68
🇱🇹Lithuania
 6.5% Europe %
69
🇬🇲Gambia
 6.5% Africa %
70
🇵🇪Peru
 6.3% South America %
71
🇬🇬Guernsey
 6.3% Europe %
72
🇯🇪Jersey
 6.3% Europe %
73
🇧🇪Belgium
 6.2% Europe %
74
🇮🇹Italy
 6% Europe %
75
🇵🇷Puerto Rico
 6% North America %
76
🇷🇴Romania
 6% Europe %
77
🇿🇲Zambia
 6% Africa %
78
🇱🇺Luxembourg
 5.9% Europe %
79
🇲🇺Mauritius
 5.9% Africa %
80
🇵🇹Portugal
 5.9% Europe %
81
🇨🇫Central African Republic
 5.9% Africa %
82
🇸🇰Slovakia
 5.8% Europe %
83
🇦🇹Austria
 5.7% Europe %
84
🇬🇧United Kingdom
 5.6% Europe %
85
🇪🇷Eritrea
 5.6% Africa %
86
🇬🇺Guam
 5.6% Oceania %
87
🇰🇪Kenya
 5.5% Africa %
88
🇻🇪Venezuela
 5.5% South America %
89
🇳🇿New Zealand
 5.4% Oceania %
90
🇦🇿Azerbaijan
 5.3% Asia %
91
🇩🇴Dominican Republic
 5.3% North America %
92
🇬🇳Guinea
 5.3% Africa %
93
🇵🇾Paraguay
 5.2% South America %
94
🇧🇫Burkina Faso
 5.2% Africa %
95
🇨🇳China
 5.1% Asia %
96
🇲🇼Malawi
 5.1% Africa %
97
🇻🇺Vanuatu
 5.1% Oceania %
98
🇫🇯Fiji
 5% Oceania %
99
🇲🇳Mongolia
 5% Asia %
100
🇱🇰Sri Lanka
 5% Asia %
101
🇮🇳India
 4.9% Asia %
102
🇮🇩Indonesia
 4.9% Asia %
103
🇯🇲Jamaica
 4.9% North America %
104
🇮🇪Ireland
 4.8% Europe %
105
🇧🇳Brunei
 4.7% Asia %
106
🇵🇭Philippines
 4.7% Asia %
107
🇧🇩Bangladesh
 4.7% Asia %
108
🇲🇻Maldives
 4.7% Asia %
109
🇭🇷Croatia
 4.6% Europe %
110
🇨🇾Cyprus
 4.6% Asia %
111
🇰🇿Kazakhstan
 4.6% Asia %
112
🇨🇩DR Congo
 4.6% Africa %
113
🇼🇸Samoa
 4.6% Oceania %
114
🇧🇴Bolivia
 4.5% South America %
115
🇸🇲San Marino
 4.4% Europe %
116
🇺🇸United States
 4.4% North America %
117
🇹🇲Turkmenistan
 4.4% Asia %
119
🇦🇼Aruba
 4.3% North America %
120
🇸🇻El Salvador
 4.3% North America %
121
🇺🇿Uzbekistan
 4.3% Asia %
122
🇦🇺Australia
 4.2% Oceania %
123
🇭🇺Hungary
 4.2% Europe %
124
🇮🇸Iceland
 4.2% Europe %
125
🇳🇴Norway
 4.2% Europe %
126
🇹🇹Trinidad and Tobago
 4.2% North America %
127
🇳🇱Netherlands
 4.1% Europe %
128
🇰🇬Kyrgyzstan
 4% Asia %
129
🇩🇪Germany
 3.9% Europe %
130
🇱🇮Liechtenstein
 3.9% Europe %
131
🇸🇮Slovenia
 3.9% Europe %
132
🇰🇲Comoros
 3.9% Africa %
133
🇸🇦Saudi Arabia
 3.9% Asia %
134
🇲🇩Moldova
 3.8% Europe %
135
🇲🇿Mozambique
 3.6% Africa %
136
🇧🇬Bulgaria
 3.4% Europe %
137
🇵🇱Poland
 3.4% Europe %
138
🇹🇼Taiwan
 3.4% Asia %
139
🇪🇹Ethiopia
 3.4% Africa %
140
🇭🇰Hong Kong
 3.3% Asia %
141
🇮🇱Israel
 3.2% Asia %
142
🇴🇲Oman
 3.2% Asia %
143
🇸🇱Sierra Leone
 3.2% Africa %
144
🇪🇨Ecuador
 3.1% South America %
145
🇬🇭Ghana
 3.1% Africa %
146
🇲🇬Madagascar
 3.1% Africa %
147
🇲🇱Mali
 3.1% Africa %
148
🇲🇲Myanmar
 3.1% Asia %
149
🇨🇿Czech Republic
 3% Europe %
150
🇲🇾Malaysia
 3% Asia %
151
🇲🇹Malta
 3% Europe %
152
🇨🇭Switzerland
 3% Europe %
153
🇳🇬Nigeria
 3% Africa %
154
🇸🇳Senegal
 3% Africa %
155
🇺🇬Uganda
 3% Africa %
156
🇧🇾Belarus
 2.9% Europe %
157
🇩🇰Denmark
 2.9% Europe %
158
🇧🇹Bhutan
 2.9% Asia %
159
🇱🇷Liberia
 2.9% Africa %
160
🇰🇵North Korea
 2.9% Asia %
161
🇰🇷South Korea
 2.8% Asia %
162
🇵🇬Papua New Guinea
 2.8% Oceania %
163
🇲🇽Mexico
 2.7% North America %
164
🇳🇮Nicaragua
 2.7% North America %
165
🇬🇼Guinea-Bissau
 2.7% Africa %
166
🇧🇿Belize
 2.6% North America %
167
🇸🇨Seychelles
 2.6% Africa %
168
🇹🇿Tanzania
 2.6% Africa %
169
🇯🇵Japan
 2.5% Asia %
170
🇷🇺Russia
 2.4% Europe %
171
🇬🇹Guatemala
 2.3% North America %
172
🇨🇮Ivory Coast
 2.3% Africa %
173
🇰🇼Kuwait
 2.2% Asia %
174
🇹🇴Tonga
 2.2% Oceania %
175
🇦🇪United Arab Emirates
 2.2% Asia %
176
🇻🇳Vietnam
 2.1% Asia %
177
🇸🇬Singapore
 2% Asia %
178
🇹🇬Togo
 2% Africa %
179
🇧🇯Benin
 1.8% Africa %
180
🇲🇴Macau
 1.7% Asia %
181
🇹🇱Timor-Leste
 1.7% Asia %
182
🇨🇺Cuba
 1.6% North America %
183
🇸🇧Solomon Islands
 1.5% Oceania %
184
🇱🇦Laos
 1.3% Asia %
185
🇧🇭Bahrain
 1.2% Asia %
186
🇦🇩Andorra
 1.1% Europe %
187
🇹🇩Chad
 1.1% Africa %
188
🇹🇭Thailand
 1% Asia %
189
🇧🇮Burundi
 1% Africa %
190
🇳🇪Niger
 0.4% Africa %
191
🇰🇭Cambodia
 0.3% Asia %
192
🇶🇦Qatar
 0.2% Asia %
Labor Market Highlights

Key Findings

Sudan Records the Highest Unemployment Rate

  • Sudan has the highest value in the dataset, with an unemployment rate of 61.3%.
  • Cameroon follows at 57%, making these the only two economies with reported unemployment above 50%.

Four Countries Report Unemployment Above 30%

  • Sudan, Cameroon, Eswatini, and South Africa each record unemployment rates of at least 30%.
  • Eswatini stands at 34.4%, while South Africa records 32.5%.

Several African Economies Appear Near the Top

  • Eight countries in the dataset record unemployment of 20% or more.
  • The group includes Sudan, Cameroon, Eswatini, South Africa, Djibouti, Botswana, Jordan, and Gabon.

Pakistan Reports an Unemployment Rate of 6.9%

  • Pakistan records 6.9%, placing it below France at 7.9% and above Canada at 6.5%.
  • Its reported rate is also higher than the United Kingdom, China, India, and the United States in this dataset.

Major Economies Show Noticeably Different Labor-Market Conditions

  • The United States records 4.4%, compared with China at 5.1%, India at 4.9%, and the United Kingdom at 5.6%.
  • Germany stands at 3.9%, while Japan reports a lower unemployment rate of 2.5%.

Qatar Has the Lowest Reported Unemployment Rate

  • Qatar records 0.2%, the lowest unemployment value in the dataset.
  • It is followed by Cambodia at 0.3% and Niger at 0.4%.

Five Economies Record Unemployment of 1% or Less

  • Qatar, Cambodia, Niger, Thailand, and Burundi report unemployment rates no higher than 1%.
  • Very low official unemployment does not always mean that every worker has stable, full-time, or highly paid employment.
Data note: The unemployment rate represents the percentage of the labor force that is without work, available for employment, and actively seeking a job under the applicable statistical definition. National survey methods, informal employment, reporting periods, and model-based estimates can affect comparisons between countries.

Unemployment

Comparison
020406080
Unemployment

Top 10 Countries with the Highest Unemployment Rates

  1. Sudan — 61.3%
  2. Cameroon — 57%
  3. Eswatini — 34.4%
  4. South Africa — 32.5%
  5. Djibouti — 25.9%
  6. Botswana — 23.2%
  7. Jordan — 21.3%
  8. Gabon — 20.1%
  9. Congo — 19.7%
  10. Namibia — 19.2%

10 Countries with the Lowest Unemployment Rates

  1. Qatar — 0.2%
  2. Cambodia — 0.3%
  3. Niger — 0.4%
  4. Thailand — 1%
  5. Burundi — 1%
  6. Andorra — 1.1%
  7. Chad — 1.1%
  8. Bahrain — 1.2%
  9. Laos — 1.3%
  10. Solomon Islands — 1.5%

Definitions & Methodology

i

What is unemployment rate by country?

Unemployment rate by country compares the percentage of each economy’s labor force that does not currently have a job but is generally available for work and seeking employment.

i

How are the country rankings ordered?

Countries are arranged from the highest reported unemployment percentage to the lowest. A larger value indicates that a greater share of the labor force is unemployed under the applicable definition.

i

Who is counted as unemployed?

An unemployed person is generally someone who does not have paid work, is available to begin working, and has taken steps to find employment. People who are not working but are not seeking a job may be classified as outside the labor force instead.

i

Does a low unemployment rate always indicate a strong job market?

Not necessarily. A low rate may reflect strong demand for workers, but it can also be affected by low labor-force participation, widespread informal employment, limited unemployment registration, or differences in national survey coverage.

i

Why do unemployment rates differ between countries?

Labor-market outcomes are shaped by factors such as economic growth, demographics, education, industrial structure, investment, labor laws, political stability, and the size of the informal economy. These differences can produce large gaps between countries.

i

Why should cross-country comparisons be interpreted carefully?

Countries may use different survey schedules, reference periods, labor force definitions, and estimation methods. Some figures may be official national observations, while others may rely on modeled or projected estimates.

Unemployment Rates by Country FAQs

i

Which country has the highest unemployment rate?

Sudan has the highest unemployment rate in this dataset, with a reported value of 61.3%.

i

Which countries have the highest unemployment rates?

The highest reported rates belong to Sudan, Cameroon, Eswatini, South Africa, and Djibouti. Each of these countries records unemployment above 25% in the dataset.

i

Which country has the lowest unemployment rate?

Qatar has the lowest reported unemployment rate at 0.2%, followed by Cambodia at 0.3% and Niger at 0.4%.

i

What does the unemployment rate measure?

The unemployment rate measures the share of the labor force without a job that is generally available for employment and actively seeking work.

i

What is Pakistan’s unemployment rate?

Pakistan records an unemployment rate of 6.9% in this dataset. The figure represents the estimated unemployed share of the country’s labor force.

i

Why can official unemployment rates be misleading?

Official rates may not fully capture underemployment, discouraged workers, irregular jobs, or activity in the informal economy. Differences in labor surveys and statistical definitions can also affect international comparisons.

Source

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