Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 4.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Least developed countries, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 4.6% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Least developed countries peaked at 5.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2006.
Least developed countries ranks 29th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.4% | — |
| 1992 | 4.5% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 4.5% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 4.4% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 4.6% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 4.6% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 4.7% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 4.7% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 4.4% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 4.5% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 4.4% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 4.4% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 4.4% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 4.3% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 4.6% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 4.6% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 5.4% | +16.8% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -12.0% |
| 2023 | 4.6% | -6.1% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 4.6% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.5% | 5.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 26 French Polynesia 11.0% compare
- 27 Syrian Arab Republic 10.9% compare
- 28 Guyana 10.8% compare
- 29 Albania 10.7% compare
- 30 United States Virgin Islands 10.6% compare
- 31 New Caledonia 10.4% compare
- 32 Rwanda 10.1% compare
More education data for Least developed countries
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 75.92 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 171.01 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1441 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Least developed countries?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Least developed countries was 4.6% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2006.
- How does Least developed countries rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Least developed countries ranks 29th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.