Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 12.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
12.5%
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
21st
of 187 countries
All-time high
13.2%
in 2022
All-time low
7.3%
in 2010
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 12.5% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2025.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and up 49.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan peaked at 13.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 2010.
Afghanistan ranks 21st of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.5% | — |
| 1992 | 7.4% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 7.4% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 7.4% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 7.4% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 7.4% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 7.4% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 7.5% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 7.4% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 7.4% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 7.4% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 7.3% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 7.3% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 7.3% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 7.3% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 8.4% | +14.2% |
| 2016 | 9.4% | +12.0% |
| 2017 | 10.4% | +10.4% |
| 2018 | 10.2% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 10.0% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 10.5% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 13.2% | +20.6% |
| 2023 | 13.1% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 12.8% | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 12.5% | -2.2% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 12.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.2%, 3.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 12.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 8.5%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.5% | 7.3% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 10.5% | 13.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 18 North Macedonia 13.1% compare
- 19 Montenegro 13.0% compare
- 20 Tunisia 12.8% compare
- 22 Cape Verde 12.4% compare
- 23 Haiti 12.3% compare
- 24 Armenia 12.1% compare
More education data for Afghanistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 88,020 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 343,942 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 13,837 (2003)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 10,383 (2003)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 7.51 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.56 % change on previous year (2019)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1811 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan was 12.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 13.2% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 2010.
- How does Afghanistan rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Afghanistan ranks 21st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.