Unemployment Rate in South America 2026
South America has a diverse labor market, with unemployment levels varying from country to country. This page ranks every South American country by its latest reported unemployment rate, allowing you to compare employment conditions through an interactive map, detailed rankings, and regional comparison charts.
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Unemployment Rate in South American Countries
| # | Country | Unemployment Rate | Global Rank | Continent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇬🇾Guyana |
10.2% | 39 | South America |
| 2 | 🇨🇴Colombia |
9% | 45 | South America |
| 3 | 🇸🇷Suriname |
9% | 46 | South America |
| 4 | 🇨🇱Chile |
8.1% | 53 | South America |
| 5 | 🇺🇾Uruguay |
8% | 54 | South America |
| 6 | 🇦🇷Argentina |
7.2% | 60 | South America |
| 7 | 🇧🇷Brazil |
6.8% | 64 | South America |
| 8 | 🇵🇪Peru |
6.3% | 70 | South America |
| 9 | 🇻🇪Venezuela |
5.5% | 88 | South America |
| 10 | 🇵🇾Paraguay |
5.2% | 93 | South America |
| 11 | 🇧🇴Bolivia |
4.5% | 114 | South America |
| 12 | 🇪🇨Ecuador |
3.1% | 144 | South America |
Key Findings
The main employment trends and country comparisons from the latest unemployment rankings across South America.
Guyana Records the Highest Unemployment Rate
- Guyana ranks first with an unemployment rate of 10.2%.
- It is the only South American country reporting unemployment above 10%.
Colombia and Suriname Share Second Place
- Colombia and Suriname each report an unemployment rate of 9%.
- Both countries rank immediately behind Guyana in the regional ranking.
Chile and Uruguay Remain Near the Top
- Chile records 8.1%, while Uruguay reports 8%.
- These countries complete the top five highest unemployment rates in South America.
Largest Economies Report Mid-Level Unemployment
- Argentina records 7.2% and Brazil 6.8%.
- Both countries remain close to the regional average rather than the highest levels.
Peru, Venezuela and Paraguay Form the Lower-Middle Group
- Peru reports 6.3%, followed by Venezuela (5.5%) and Paraguay (5.2%).
- These rates are below those recorded in the northern part of the continent.
Bolivia and Ecuador Have the Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Bolivia reports 4.5%, while Ecuador records just 3.1%.
- Ecuador has the lowest reported unemployment rate in South America.
Regional Differences Are Relatively Moderate
- The gap between the highest and lowest unemployment rates is about 7.1 percentage points.
- This indicates a narrower range than seen in several other world regions.
Unemployment Rate in South America Comparison
The comparison chart illustrates how unemployment differs across South America. It helps compare countries with relatively high joblessness against those reporting lower unemployment, providing a clear picture of labor-market conditions across the continent.
Unemployment in South America
Top 10 Countries with the Highest Unemployment Rates in South America
- Guyana — 10.2%
- Colombia — 9%
- Suriname — 9%
- Chile — 8.1%
- Uruguay — 8%
- Argentina — 7.2%
- Brazil — 6.8%
- Peru — 6.3%
- Venezuela — 5.5%
- Paraguay — 5.2%
Top 10 Countries with the Lowest Unemployment Rates in South America
- Ecuador — 3.1%
- Bolivia — 4.5%
- Paraguay — 5.2%
- Venezuela — 5.5%
- Peru — 6.3%
- Brazil — 6.8%
- Argentina — 7.2%
- Uruguay — 8%
- Chile — 8.1%
- Suriname — 9%
Definitions & Methodology
What is the unemployment rate in South America?
The unemployment rate in South America measures the percentage of the labor force that is without work but actively seeking employment. It provides a consistent way to compare labor-market conditions across the continent.
How are South American countries ranked?
Countries are ranked from the highest to the lowest reported unemployment rate. Higher percentages indicate a greater share of the labor force is unemployed.
Who is considered unemployed?
An unemployed person is generally someone who does not have a job, is available for work, and is actively looking for employment, according to the statistical standards used by each country.
Why do unemployment rates differ across South America?
Differences can result from economic growth, commodity prices, labor-market policies, investment, education, demographics, political conditions, and the size of the informal economy.
Does a low unemployment rate always indicate a stronger economy?
Not always. Low official unemployment may exist alongside informal employment, underemployment, lower wages, or reduced labor-force participation.
How should these rankings be interpreted?
Comparisons should consider differences in reporting periods, statistical methods, labor-force participation, informal employment, and national definitions used by each country.
Does low unemployment always indicate a strong labor market?
Not necessarily. Low official unemployment may coexist with informal work, underemployment, limited working hours, low wages, or low labor-force participation.
How should the rankings be interpreted?
Comparisons should account for reporting periods, survey design, informal employment, labor-force participation, territorial coverage, and differences in national statistical methods.
Unemployment Rate in South America FAQs
Which country has the highest unemployment rate in South America?
Guyana has the highest reported unemployment rate in South America at 10.2%.
Which countries have the highest unemployment rates in South America?
The highest unemployment rates are reported by Guyana, Colombia, Suriname, Chile, and Uruguay.
What is Brazil's unemployment rate?
Brazil reports an unemployment rate of 6.8% in this dataset.
What is Argentina's unemployment rate?
Argentina records an unemployment rate of 7.2%.
Which country has the lowest unemployment rate in South America?
Ecuador has the lowest reported unemployment rate in South America at 3.1%.
Why do unemployment rates vary across South America?
Unemployment differs because of variations in economic performance, labor-market policies, commodity prices, investment, demographics, education, and informal employment.
What is Mexico’s unemployment rate?
Mexico reports an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
Which country has the lowest unemployment rate in North America?
Cuba has the lowest reported unemployment rate at 1.6%.
Why do unemployment rates differ across North America?
Differences may result from tourism dependence, economic structure, migration, education, investment, labor policies, demographics, and exposure to regional or global economic shocks.