Ireland vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)
Ireland
4.6%
in 2025
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
4.7%
in 2025
Ireland rank
110th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
108th
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) over time
- Ireland
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 4.7% against 4.6% in Ireland, a difference of 0.1%.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 35 shared years of data; in 1991 it was Ireland ahead.
Ireland ranks 110th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 108th of 187 countries.
Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ireland | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.0% | 8.3% | 3.8% | Ireland |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 0.0% | Ireland |
| 2010s | 10.7% | 6.1% | 4.5% | Ireland |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.4% | 0.6% | Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), Ireland or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 4.7% against 4.6% in Ireland as of 2025.
- What is the difference in unemployment, total (% of total labor force) between Ireland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 0.1%, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ireland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do Ireland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Ireland ranks 110th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 108th of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.