Unemployment Rate in Oceania 2026
Oceania has some of the world’s most diverse labor markets, ranging from developed economies to small island nations. This ranking compares the latest unemployment rates across countries and territories in the region, making it easy to identify where joblessness is highest and where employment conditions remain relatively strong. Explore the interactive map, complete rankings, comparison chart, and regional analysis.
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Unemployment Rate in Oceanian Countries
| # | Country | Unemployment Rate | Global Rank | Continent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇵🇫French Polynesia |
11.8% | 29 | Oceania |
| 2 | 🇳🇨New Caledonia |
11.2% | 33 | Oceania |
| 3 | 🇬🇺Guam |
5.6% | 86 | Oceania |
| 4 | 🇳🇿New Zealand |
5.4% | 89 | Oceania |
| 5 | 🇻🇺Vanuatu |
5.1% | 97 | Oceania |
| 6 | 🇫🇯Fiji |
5% | 98 | Oceania |
| 7 | 🇼🇸Samoa |
4.6% | 113 | Oceania |
| 8 | 🇦🇺Australia |
4.2% | 122 | Oceania |
| 9 | 🇵🇬Papua New Guinea |
2.8% | 162 | Oceania |
| 10 | 🇹🇴Tonga |
2.2% | 174 | Oceania |
| 11 | 🇸🇧Solomon Islands |
1.5% | 183 | Oceania |
Key Findings
Important employment patterns and country comparisons from the latest unemployment rate rankings across Oceania.
French Polynesia Has the Highest Unemployment Rate
- French Polynesia ranks first in Oceania with an unemployment rate of 11.8%.
- It is followed closely by New Caledonia at 11.2%.
Only Two Economies Report Double-Digit Unemployment
- French Polynesia and New Caledonia are the only economies in the regional ranking with unemployment above 10%.
- The next highest rate is considerably lower, with Guam reporting 5.6%.
New Zealand Ranks Fourth in Oceania
- New Zealand records an unemployment rate of 5.4%.
- Its rate is slightly below Guam and slightly above Vanuatu and Fiji.
Australia Reports Lower Unemployment Than New Zealand
- Australia records 4.2%, compared with New Zealand at 5.4%.
- Australia ranks eighth among the 11 Oceania economies in the dataset.
Several Economies Fall Between 4% and 6%
- Guam, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, and Australia all report unemployment rates within this range.
- This group forms the middle section of the regional ranking.
Papua New Guinea and Tonga Report Relatively Low Rates
- Papua New Guinea records 2.8%, while Tonga reports 2.2%.
- Both economies remain well below Oceania’s regional unemployment rate of 5.4%.
Solomon Islands Has the Lowest Unemployment Rate
- Solomon Islands ranks last with an unemployment rate of 1.5%.
- It is followed by Tonga and Papua New Guinea among the region’s lowest-unemployment economies.
The Regional Gap Reaches 10.3 Percentage Points
- The difference between French Polynesia’s 11.8% and Solomon Islands’ 1.5% is 10.3 percentage points.
- This shows that labor-market conditions vary considerably across Oceania.
Unemployment Rate in Oceania Comparison
The comparison chart illustrates how unemployment rates differ across Oceania, highlighting the gap between countries with relatively high joblessness and those with stronger employment conditions. It provides a quick visual comparison of labor-market performance across the region.
Unemployment in Oceania
Top 10 Countries with the Highest Unemployment Rates in Oceania
- French Polynesia — 11.8%
- New Caledonia — 11.2%
- Guam — 5.6%
- New Zealand — 5.4%
- Vanuatu — 5.1%
- Fiji — 5%
- Samoa — 4.6%
- Australia — 4.2%
- Papua New Guinea — 2.8%
- Tonga — 2.2%
Top 10 Countries with the Lowest Unemployment Rates in Oceania
- Solomon Islands — 1.5%
- Tonga — 2.2%
- Papua New Guinea — 2.8%
- Australia — 4.2%
- Samoa — 4.6%
- Fiji — 5%
- Vanuatu — 5.1%
- New Zealand — 5.4%
- Guam — 5.6%
- New Caledonia — 11.2%
Definitions & Methodology
What is the unemployment rate in Oceania?
The unemployment rate in Oceania measures the percentage of the labor force that is without a job but actively seeking employment across countries and territories in the region.
How are countries ranked?
Countries are ranked from the highest to the lowest reported unemployment rate. Higher percentages indicate a larger share of the labor force is unemployed.
Who is counted as unemployed?
An unemployed person is generally someone who is not working, is available to start work, and is actively looking for employment according to the statistical standards used by each economy.
Why do unemployment rates differ across Oceania?
Labor-market conditions vary because of differences in economic development, tourism, labor demand, education, migration, demographics, government policies, and industrial structure.
Does a low unemployment rate always indicate a strong economy?
Not necessarily. Low unemployment may still exist alongside underemployment, informal work, lower wages, or reduced labor-force participation.
How should these rankings be interpreted?
Comparisons should take into account differences in reporting periods, survey methods, labor-force participation, and national statistical methodologies.
Unemployment Rate in Oceania FAQs
Which country has the highest unemployment rate in Oceania?
French Polynesia has the highest reported unemployment rate in Oceania at 11.8%.
Which countries have the highest unemployment rates in Oceania?
The highest unemployment rates in the region are reported by French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Guam, New Zealand, and Vanuatu.
What is Australia's unemployment rate?
Australia reports an unemployment rate of 4.2%.
What is New Zealand's unemployment rate?
New Zealand records an unemployment rate of 5.4%.
Which country has the lowest unemployment rate in Oceania?
Solomon Islands has the lowest reported unemployment rate in Oceania at 1.5%.
Why do unemployment rates vary across Oceania?
Unemployment rates differ because of economic development, tourism, labor demand, migration, education, demographics, and government employment policies. These factors influence job opportunities across the region.