Unemployment by Country 2022

As a proportion of the entire labor force, unemployment is defined as the percentage of jobless employees. The unemployment rate includes employees who are now unemployed but can return to work.




According to several estimates, the worldwide unemployment rate will be between 6.3% and 6.5% in 2021.

A lagging indicator, the unemployment rate does not influence or anticipate economic circumstances; rather, it reacts (increases and decreases) to them. In a robust economy, job opportunities are numerous, and unemployment is low.

There is a downward trend in employment and an upward trend in unemployment while the economy is downturned.

International comparisons of unemployment rates offer a challenge.

When comparing nations’ unemployment rates, it’s important to remember that not all comparisons are apples-to-apples. Unemployment is defined differently around the world. In certain nations, if a person is capable of working but is not actively employed, they are considered jobless.

People are only considered jobless in other nations if they look for employment. Unemployed people are those who are neither working nor searching for a job. The unemployment rates in various nations will be affected by these differing classifications.




Examine the South African unemployment rate in 2019 using the International Labour Organization statistics to observe this influence in action.

When all three criteria (not employed, available, and seeking) are taken into account, the unemployment rate is 29 percent, 38 percent when “not employed but available” is used, and 40 percent when “not employed but looking” is used.

According to an established international standard, most nations now report unemployment as a percentage of their workforce. This makes it simpler to compare the statistics across countries.

If you come across facts that you find unexpected, it’s essential to bear in mind the likelihood of mismatch. The data’s currentness is also an issue.

If you compare one country’s 2020 unemployment rate to another country’s 2015 rate, you’re likely to get an erroneous picture of the situation. Meanwhile, if there is no fresh data, previous data are still better than nothing.

Most Unemployed Countries in 2020 (World Bank data):

  1. South Africa – 29.2%
  2. Kosovo (partially recognized) – 26.2%
  3. Djibouti – 26.1%
  4. West Bank& Gaza Strip (occupied Palestine) – 25.9%
  5. Equatorial Guinea – 25.0%
  6. Botswana – 24.9%
  7. Grenada – 22.9%
  8. Eswatini – 22.7%
  9. Lesotho – 22.4%
  10. Gabon – 20.4%




Impact of Unemployment

There are several negative repercussions of unemployment, including increased depression and other mental health issues, greater crime rates, poorer economic production and consumption, fewer rates of volunteers, and a loss of skills.

Excessive inflation may arise due to very low unemployment, which is surprising (when everyone is employed and has money to spend, demand for products can outstrip supply, which causes a rise in prices).

As a result, the cost of living in many developing and/or low-income nations may rise, making it more difficult for inhabitants.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculations, there are six distinct ways to determine the unemployment rate in the United States. Jobless people are defined as able and willing to work and have actively sought employment in the last four weeks by the U-3 statistic.

The jobless do not include those with impairments who want to work but cannot do so. Unemployed persons are divided by the number of people in the labor force and multiplied by 100, according to the U-3 statistic.




The World Bank’s 2020 data shows the top 10 countries with the lowest unemployment rates:

  1. El Salvador – 0.1% (tie)
  2. Qatar – 0.1% (tie)
  3. Myanmar – .05%
  4. Solomon Islands – 0.7%
  5. Chad – 1.1% (tie)
  6. Thailand – 1.1% (tie)
  7. Bahrain – 1.2% (tie)
  8. Cambodia – 1.2% (tie)
  9. Malawi – 1.3%
  10. Palau – 1.4%

What we don’t know about unemployment

The fact that a nation has a low unemployment rate doesn’t always mean that its citizens live in a better, more sustainable environment.




ILO researchers revealed that a large portion of the world’s 3.3 billion technically employed individuals does so because of insufficient income, a lack of job stability, or even the lack of potential for promotion.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on unemployment

Since the 2008 financial crisis, worldwide unemployment has fallen below 5%, according to a study from the International Labor Organization’s World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2019.

Due in no little part to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, however, that proportion did not continue long. According to the BLS, before the COVID-19 epidemic, the US unemployment rate was 3.8% (February 2020).

By May 2020, the jobless rate might reach 16 percent. Employment will fall to 7.9 percent by September 2020.

Unemployment may be classified into three categories.

Frictional, structural, and seasonal unemployment all fall under this category. The term “frictional unemployment” refers to unemployment when a person is actively looking for work.




As a result of a mismatch between job needs and employees’ abilities or locations, structural unemployment is a problem. Like tourism or farming, a population’s activity alters throughout the year, resulting in seasonal unemployment.

Also See: Underdeveloped Countries 2022

The following are the 10 countries with the highest unemployment rates:

  1. South Africa (29.20%)
  2. Djibouti (26.10%)
  3. Equatorial Guinea (25.00%)
  4. Botswana (24.90%)
  5. Grenada (22.90%)
  6. Eswatini (22.70%)
  7. Lesotho (22.40%)
  8. Gabon (20.40%)
  9. Namibia (19.90%)
  10. Curacao (19.10%)




CountryRate - World BankYear (WB)Rate - Int'l. Labour Org.Year (ILO)Rate - CIAYear (CIA)
South Africa29.2000202029.2000202028.53002019
Djibouti26.1000201726.10002017402017
Equatorial Guinea2519838.60002014
Botswana24.9000202022.60002019202013
Grenada22.9000201522.90002015242017
Eswatini22.7000201622.70002016282014
Lesotho22.4000201922.4000201928.10002014
Gabon20.40002010282015
Namibia19.9000201819.90002018342016
Curacao19.1000202013.40002018132013
Libya192012302004
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines18.8000200818.80002008
Panama18.600020204.700020196.14002018
Georgia18.5000202018.5000202011.80002016
Armenia18.3000201918.3000201918.90002017
Montenegro17.9000202015.1000201915.82002019
Costa Rica17.4000202017.400020208.10002017
Sudan17.4000201119.60002017
North Macedonia17.2000202017.20002020
Zimbabwe16.9000201916.9000201911.30002014
Jordan16.8000201916.8000201919.10002019
Greece16.3000202016.3000202017.30002019
Bosnia and Herzegovina15.9000202015.7000201933.28002019
Spain15.5000202015.5000202014.13002019
Saint Lucia15.3000201915.30002019202003
Rwanda15.3000201915.300020192.70002014
Tunisia15.1000201915.1000201915.50002017
Colombia15202015202010.50002019
New Caledonia14.6000201414.6000201414.70002014
Samoa14.5000201714.500020175.20002017
Haiti14.1000201240.60002010
Brazil13.7000202013.7000202011.93002019
Sao Tome and Principe13.6000201212.20002017
Algeria13.6000201713.6000201711.70002017
Yemen13.5000201413.50002014272014
Nauru13.30002013232011
Turkey13.1000202013.1000202013.68002019
Iraq132017132017162012
Zambia12.50002019122018152008
South Sudan12.20002008
French Polynesia11.7000200721.80002012
Albania11.7000202011.500020195.83002019
Afghanistan11.7000202011.2000201723.90002017
Argentina11.500020209.800020199.84002019
Nepal11.4000201711.4000201732017
Lebanon11.3000201911.400020199.70002007
Northern Mariana Islands11.2000201011.20002010
Chile11.2000202011.200020207.22002019
Dominica112001232000
Honduras1120205.700020195.60002017
Uruguay10.5000202010.400020207.60002017
Mauritania10.3000201710.3000201710.20002017
Gambia10.2000201810.20002018
Uganda10.100020179.900020179.40002014
Bahamas10201810201810.10002017
Republic of the Congo102012362014
Iran9.7000202010.7000201911.80002017
Angola9.600020149.600020146.60002016
Canada9.500020209.500020205.67002019
Ukraine9.500020208.200020198.89002019
Laos9.400020179.400020170.70002017
Morocco9.300020169.300020169.23002019
American Samoa9.2000201029.80002005
Italy9.200020209.200020209.88002019
Greenland9.100020159.100020159.10002015
Belize9.100020196.6000201792017
Serbia920209202014.10002017
Uzbekistan920199201952017
Bermuda8.900020148.9000201472017
Aruba8.900020117.70002016
Micronesia8.900020148.9000201416.20002010
Kiribati8.600020198.6000201930.60002010
Syria8.60002010502017
Tuvalu8.500020168.50002016
Lithuania8.500020208.500020208.40002019
Nigeria8.500020198.5000201816.50002017
Antigua and Barbuda8.40002001112014
Barbados8.400020198.4000201910.10002017
Turks and Caicos Islands8.30002008101997
Puerto Rico8.300020198.3000201910.80002017
Sweden8.300020208.300020206.78002019
Comoros8.100020148.100020146.50002014
Latvia8.100020208.100020206.14002019
United States8.100020208.100020203.89002018
France82020820208.12002019
Vanuatu7.900020197.900020191.70001999
Suriname7.900020167.900020168.90002017
Bolivia7.900020203.8000201942017
Finland7.800020207.800020206.63002019
Niger7.800020177.800020170.30002017
Egypt7.800020197.800020197.86002019
Cyprus7.600020207.600020207.07002019
Croatia7.500020207.500020208.07002019
Paraguay7.500020207.600020205.70002017
Peru7.400020207.100020206.58002019
Saudi Arabia7.400020206201862017
Mongolia720207202082017
Tajikistan6.900020166.900020162.40002016
Luxembourg6.800020206.800020205.36002019
Estonia6.800020206.800020204.94002019
Portugal6.800020206.800020206.55002019
Slovakia6.700020206.7000202052019
Jamaica6.500020207.700020197.72002019
Australia6.500020206.500020205.16002019
Gibraltar6.4000199112016
Marshall Islands6.40002019362006
Monaco6.300020166.3000201622012
Mauritius6.300020196.300020196.65002019
Dominican Republic6.100020206.400020195.10002017
Ecuador6.100020206.100020205.71002019
San Marino5.800020195.800020198.10002017
Hong Kong5.800020202.900020192.93002019
Ireland5.600020205.500020204.98002019
Denmark5.600020205.600020203.05002019
Russia5.600020204.500020194.60002019
Iceland5.500020205.500020203.62002019
Belgium5.500020205.600020205.36002019
Guam5.400020165.400020164.50002017
Austria5.400020205.400020207.35002019
Maldives5.300020195.300020192.90002017
Nicaragua5.200020185.200020186.40002017
China5.200020195.200020193.64002019
Saint Kitts and Nevis5.100020014.50001997
Bulgaria5.100020205.100020205.66002019
Slovenia52020520207.64002019
Guinea52019520192.70002017
Romania52020520203.06002019
Venezuela520175.100020176.90002018
Kenya5201952019402013
Kazakhstan4.900020204.800020194.80002019
Switzerland4.800020204.800020202.31002019
Azerbaijan4.800020194.9000201952017
Timor-Leste4.700020164.700020164.40002014
Burkina Faso4.700020184.70002018772004
India4.700020205.300020198.50002017
New Zealand4.600020204.600020204.13002019
Kyrgyzstan4.500020184.500020183.18002019
Malaysia4.500020203.300020193.30002019
DR Congo4.50002012
Mexico4.500020204.500020203.49002019
Norway4.400020204.400020203.72002019
Bangladesh4.400020174.400020174.40002017
Seychelles4.300020203201932017
Malta4.300020204.300020200.78002019
Fiji4.300020164.300020164.50002017
Israel4.300020203.800020194.40002020
Hungary4.300020204.300020203.45002019
Sri Lanka4.300020184.800020194.83002019
Indonesia4.300020204.300020205.31002018
Cayman Islands4.200020154.2000201542008
Ghana4.200020174.2000201711.90002015
Singapore4.100020203.100020192.25002019
Belarus4.100020204.200020190.80002017
Pakistan4.100020184.1000201862017
Turkmenistan42010112014
South Korea3.900020203.76002019
Moldova3.800020203.800020204.99002019
Netherlands3.800020203.800020203.41002019
Germany3.800020203.800020204.98002019
Faroe Islands3.700020042.20002017
Togo3.700020173.700020176.90002016
United Kingdom3.700020193.700020193.17002019
Cameroon3.500020143.500020144.30002014
Mozambique3.400020153.4000201524.50002017
British Virgin Islands3.300019912.90002015
Ivory Coast3.300020173.300020179.40002013
Guyana3.2000201814201811.10002013
Trinidad and Tobago3.200020163.200020164.90002017
Sierra Leone3.200020184.70002014152017
Poland3.200020203.200020205.43002019
Tonga3.100020183.100020181.10002011
Liberia3.100020163.100020162.80002014
Oman2.900020201.80002018
Senegal2.900020193.60002017482007
Japan2.800020202.800020202.36002019
Isle of Man2.700020162.700020161.10002017
Macau2.600020201.8000201922017
Papua New Guinea2.600020112.50002017
Bhutan2.500020152.500020153.20002017
Czech Republic2.500020202.600020202.80002019
Philippines2.500020202.200020195.11002019
Vietnam2.400020202.400020203.11002018
Ethiopia2.3000201317.50002012
Kuwait2.200020162.200020161.10002017
United Arab Emirates2.200020192.200020191.60002016
Guatemala2.200020192.200020192.30002017
Tanzania2.100020142.1000201410.30002014
Liechtenstein220072.40002015
Madagascar1.800020151.800020151.80002017
Cuba1.700020181.700020182.60002017
Mali1.600020181.600020187.90002017
Benin1.5000201812014
Palau1.400020141.400020141.70002015
Malawi1.300020205.8000201720.40002013
Bahrain1.200020123.60002017
Cambodia1.200020190.100020170.30002017
Chad1.100020181.10002018
Thailand1.100020200.700020190.99002019
Solomon Islands0.70002013
Myanmar0.500020190.5000201942017
Qatar0.100020200.100020198.90002017
El Salvador0.100020204.2000201972017
Tokelau---22015
Niue122001
Falkland Islands1201612016
Montserrat5.60002017
Saint Pierre and Miquelon8.70002015
Wallis and Futuna8.80002013
Anguilla82002
Cook Islands1.3000201913.10002005
Sint Maarten122012
Andorra3.70002016
French Guiana23.20002016
Guadeloupe23.80002016
Eritrea5.80002017
Central African Republic6.90002017
Somalia
Taiwan3.700020193.73002019
North Korea25.60002013




Leave a Comment