Unemployment Rate in Europe 2026
Employment conditions across Europe differ considerably between countries, reflecting variations in economic growth, workforce participation, investment, and labor demand. This page compares the latest unemployment rates across European economies through an interactive map, complete rankings, visual comparisons, and regional insights.
See Also:
Unemployment Rate in European Countries
| # | Country | Unemployment Rate | Global Rank | Continent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇲🇪Montenegro |
14.1% | 20 | Europe |
| 2 | 🇧🇦Bosnia and Herzegovina |
12.6% | 25 | Europe |
| 3 | 🇲🇰North Macedonia |
11.5% | 31 | Europe |
| 4 | 🇺🇦Ukraine |
10.2% | 38 | Europe |
| 5 | 🇪🇸Spain |
9.8% | 40 | Europe |
| 6 | 🇫🇮Finland |
9.6% | 41 | Europe |
| 7 | 🇷🇸Serbia |
8.8% | 47 | Europe |
| 8 | 🇦🇱Albania |
8.7% | 48 | Europe |
| 9 | 🇸🇪Sweden |
8.6% | 49 | Europe |
| 10 | 🇫🇷France |
7.9% | 55 | Europe |
| 11 | 🇬🇷Greece |
7.4% | 58 | Europe |
| 12 | 🇪🇪Estonia |
7.3% | 59 | Europe |
| 13 | 🇱🇻Latvia |
6.7% | 66 | Europe |
| 14 | 🇱🇹Lithuania |
6.5% | 68 | Europe |
| 15 | 🇬🇬Guernsey |
6.3% | 71 | Europe |
| 16 | 🇯🇪Jersey |
6.3% | 72 | Europe |
| 17 | 🇧🇪Belgium |
6.2% | 73 | Europe |
| 18 | 🇮🇹Italy |
6% | 74 | Europe |
| 19 | 🇷🇴Romania |
6% | 76 | Europe |
| 20 | 🇱🇺Luxembourg |
5.9% | 78 | Europe |
| 21 | 🇵🇹Portugal |
5.9% | 80 | Europe |
| 22 | 🇸🇰Slovakia |
5.8% | 82 | Europe |
| 23 | 🇦🇹Austria |
5.7% | 83 | Europe |
| 24 | 🇬🇧United Kingdom |
5.6% | 84 | Europe |
| 25 | 🇮🇪Ireland |
4.8% | 104 | Europe |
| 26 | 🇭🇷Croatia |
4.6% | 109 | Europe |
| 27 | 🇸🇲San Marino |
4.4% | 115 | Europe |
| 28 | 🇭🇺Hungary |
4.2% | 123 | Europe |
| 29 | 🇮🇸Iceland |
4.2% | 124 | Europe |
| 30 | 🇳🇴Norway |
4.2% | 125 | Europe |
| 31 | 🇳🇱Netherlands |
4.1% | 127 | Europe |
| 32 | 🇩🇪Germany |
3.9% | 129 | Europe |
| 33 | 🇱🇮Liechtenstein |
3.9% | 130 | Europe |
| 34 | 🇸🇮Slovenia |
3.9% | 131 | Europe |
| 35 | 🇲🇩Moldova |
3.8% | 134 | Europe |
| 36 | 🇧🇬Bulgaria |
3.4% | 136 | Europe |
| 37 | 🇵🇱Poland |
3.4% | 137 | Europe |
| 38 | 🇨🇿Czech Republic |
3% | 149 | Europe |
| 39 | 🇲🇹Malta |
3% | 151 | Europe |
| 40 | 🇨🇭Switzerland |
3% | 152 | Europe |
| 41 | 🇧🇾Belarus |
2.9% | 156 | Europe |
| 42 | 🇩🇰Denmark |
2.9% | 157 | Europe |
| 43 | 🇷🇺Russia |
2.4% | 170 | Europe |
| 44 | 🇦🇩Andorra |
1.1% | 186 | Europe |
Key Findings
Important employment patterns and country comparisons from the latest unemployment rate rankings across Europe.
Montenegro Has the Highest Unemployment Rate in Europe
- Montenegro ranks first in Europe with an unemployment rate of 14.1%.
- It is followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, which records 12.6%.
Four European Countries Record Double-Digit Unemployment
- Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Ukraine report unemployment rates above 10%.
- Ukraine completes this group with a reported rate of 10.2%.
Several Balkan Economies Rank Near the Top
- Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Albania all appear among Europe’s higher-unemployment economies.
- Their rates range from 8.7% in Albania to 14.1% in Montenegro.
Spain and Finland Report Unemployment Near 10%
- Spain records 9.8%, while Finland follows closely at 9.6%.
- They rank fifth and sixth respectively in the European comparison.
France Reports Higher Unemployment Than Several Major Economies
- France records 7.9%, compared with Italy at 6%, the United Kingdom at 5.6%, and Germany at 3.9%.
- France ranks tenth among the 44 European economies listed.
Germany and the United Kingdom Remain Below the Regional Rate
- The United Kingdom reports 5.6%, while Germany records 3.9%.
- Both remain below Europe’s regional unemployment rate of 5.92%.
Several European Economies Report Unemployment of 3% or Less
- Czech Republic, Malta, and Switzerland each record 3%.
- Belarus and Denmark report 2.9%, while Russia records 2.4%.
Andorra Has the Lowest Unemployment Rate in Europe
- Andorra ranks last with an unemployment rate of only 1.1%.
- Russia follows with 2.4%, while Denmark and Belarus each report 2.9%.
Unemployment Rate in Europe Comparison
The comparison chart presents European unemployment rates side by side, making it easier to identify countries with elevated joblessness and compare them with economies reporting stronger employment conditions.
Unemployment in Europe
Top 10 Countries with the Highest Unemployment Rates in Europe
- Montenegro — 14.1%
- Bosnia and Herzegovina — 12.6%
- North Macedonia — 11.5%
- Ukraine — 10.2%
- Spain — 9.8%
- Finland — 9.6%
- Serbia — 8.8%
- Albania — 8.7%
- Sweden — 8.6%
- France — 7.9%
Top 10 Countries with the Lowest Unemployment Rates in Europe
- Andorra — 1.1%
- Russia — 2.4%
- Belarus — 2.9%
- Denmark — 2.9%
- Czech Republic — 3%
- Malta — 3%
- Switzerland — 3%
- Bulgaria — 3.4%
- Poland — 3.4%
- Moldova — 3.8%
Definitions & Methodology
What is the unemployment rate in Europe?
The unemployment rate in Europe compares the share of the labor force that is without work across European countries. It helps show where joblessness is relatively high and where labor-market conditions are stronger.
How are European countries ranked?
Countries are arranged from the highest to the lowest reported unemployment rate. A higher percentage indicates that a larger proportion of the labor force is classified as unemployed.
Who is considered unemployed?
An unemployed person is generally someone who does not currently have paid work, is available to begin working, and is actively seeking employment under the statistical definition used by the reporting authority.
Why do unemployment rates differ across Europe?
Differences may be influenced by economic growth, labor demand, education, demographics, industrial structure, investment, labor regulations, migration, and government policy.
Does low unemployment always mean a strong labor market?
Not necessarily. A low official unemployment rate may still exist alongside underemployment, temporary work, low wages, limited working hours, or reduced labor-force participation.
What is Europe’s regional unemployment rate?
Europe records a regional unemployment rate of 5.92% across the 44 countries and territories included in the dataset. Individual values range from 14.1% in Montenegro to 1.1% in Andorra.
How should these rankings be interpreted?
Country comparisons should consider differences in reporting periods, survey coverage, labor-force participation, temporary employment, informal work, and national statistical methodologies.
Unemployment Rate in Europe FAQs
Which country has the highest unemployment rate in Europe?
Montenegro has the highest reported unemployment rate in Europe at 14.1%.
Which countries have the highest unemployment rates in Europe?
The highest unemployment rates are reported by Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Ukraine, and Spain.
What is the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom records an unemployment rate of 5.6% in this dataset.
What is Germany's unemployment rate?
Germany reports an unemployment rate of 3.9%.
What is France's unemployment rate?
France records an unemployment rate of 7.9%, placing it tenth in the European ranking.
Which country has the lowest unemployment rate in Europe?
Andorra has the lowest reported unemployment rate in Europe at 1.1%.
Why do unemployment rates vary across Europe?
Unemployment rates differ because of variations in economic growth, labor demand, education, demographics, investment, industrial structure, migration, and national labor policies.