Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 7.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
7.6%
Change on year
up 0.3%
Rank
2nd
of 47 groups
All-time high
8.6%
in 2020
All-time low
5.7%
in 2009
Years of data
35
1991–2025

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), 1991–2025

024681991200820251991: 7.11992: 7.41993: 7.91994: 7.91995: 8.11996: 7.51997: 7.21998: 7.31999: 7.62000: 7.72001: 7.62002: 7.62003: 7.42004: 6.52005: 6.72006: 6.22007: 62008: 5.72009: 5.72010: 5.82011: 6.42012: 7.62013: 7.12014: 6.82015: 7.42016: 7.32017: 7.82018: 7.92019: 7.62020: 8.62021: 8.42022: 7.82023: 7.52024: 7.62025: 7.6

Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2025, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) stood at 7.6%.

The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 8.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.7%, in 2009.

That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), 1991 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1991 7.1%
1992 7.4% +4.8%
1993 7.9% +5.9%
1994 7.9% +0.0%
1995 8.1% +3.0%
1996 7.5% -7.4%
1997 7.2% -3.8%
1998 7.3% +1.3%
1999 7.6% +3.5%
2000 7.7% +2.0%
2001 7.6% -1.2%
2002 7.6% -0.9%
2003 7.4% -1.8%
2004 6.5% -12.9%
2005 6.7% +3.1%
2006 6.2% -6.5%
2007 6.0% -4.5%
2008 5.7% -3.7%
2009 5.7% -0.5%
2010 5.8% +1.8%
2011 6.4% +9.7%
2012 7.6% +20.1%
2013 7.1% -6.7%
2014 6.8% -4.1%
2015 7.4% +8.9%
2016 7.3% -2.1%
2017 7.8% +6.4%
2018 7.9% +2.0%
2019 7.6% -3.9%
2020 8.6% +13.2%
2021 8.4% -2.6%
2022 7.8% -7.0%
2023 7.5% -4.0%
2024 7.6% +1.0%
2025 7.6% +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 7.6% 7.1% 8.1% 9
2000s 6.7% 5.7% 7.7% 10
2010s 7.2% 5.8% 7.9% 10
2020s 7.9% 7.5% 8.6% 6

Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)

  1. 1 Eswatini 32.5% compare
  2. 2 South Africa 31.0% compare
  3. 3 Djibouti 21.8% compare
  4. 4 Botswana 21.5% compare
  5. 5 Palestine 20.2% compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More education data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)

All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) was 7.6% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
The highest recorded value was 8.6% in 2020.
What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
The lowest recorded value was 5.7% in 2009.
How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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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Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD). Statizoid, drawing on ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-modeled-ilo-estimate/middle-east-north-africa-afghanistan-and-pakistan-ida-and-ibrd/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source
ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
235 places, 8,211 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.