Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 13.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Afghanistan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Afghanistan stood at 13.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and up 47.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Afghanistan peaked at 14.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 2004.
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, total (% of total labor force) in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.0% | — |
| 1992 | 8.0% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 7.9% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 7.9% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 7.9% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 7.9% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 7.9% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 7.9% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 7.9% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 7.9% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 8.0% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 7.9% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 7.8% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 7.8% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 7.8% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 9.0% | +14.1% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | +12.0% |
| 2017 | 11.2% | +10.6% |
| 2018 | 11.2% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 11.2% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 11.7% | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 12.0% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 14.1% | +17.4% |
| 2023 | 14.0% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 13.7% | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 13.4% | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.9% | 7.8% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.2% | 7.8% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.1% | 11.7% | 14.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 18 Angola 14.1% compare
- 19 Montenegro 13.6% compare
- 20 Syrian Arab Republic 13.6% compare
- 22 Armenia 12.9% compare
- 23 South Sudan 12.4% compare
- 24 North Macedonia 12.3% 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, total (% of total labor force) in Afghanistan?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Afghanistan was 13.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 14.1% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 2004.
- How does Afghanistan rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Afghanistan ranks 21st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.8%. 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, total (% of total 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.