Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries): Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 3.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 4.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1992.
East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 43rd of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.4% | — |
| 1992 | 2.4% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | +10.7% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | +11.5% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 3.4% | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 3.5% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 3.4% | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 3.9% | +12.5% |
| 2002 | 4.2% | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 4.4% | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 4.5% | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 4.4% | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 4.5% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 4.4% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 4.2% | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 4.1% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 4.1% | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 4.1% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 4.1% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 3.8% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 4.1% | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 4.2% | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | -6.2% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 3.9% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.4% | 3.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.2% | 3.4% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
More education data for East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 159.24 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 177.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.5719 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0841 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 18.2% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.1% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 10.06 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) was 3.9% 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 East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 4.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1992.
- How does East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 43rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.