Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Estonia
Estonia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 8.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Estonia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Estonia recorded 8.3% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 9.4% on the previous year and up 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Estonia peaked at 16.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1991.
Estonia ranks 53rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Estonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.5% | — |
| 1992 | 3.7% | +150.7% |
| 1993 | 6.5% | +77.8% |
| 1994 | 7.6% | +15.5% |
| 1995 | 9.7% | +27.7% |
| 1996 | 9.9% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 10.4% | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 9.5% | -8.3% |
| 1999 | 11.6% | +21.7% |
| 2000 | 13.4% | +15.4% |
| 2001 | 13.1% | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 10.0% | -23.7% |
| 2003 | 11.3% | +12.6% |
| 2004 | 10.2% | -9.2% |
| 2005 | 8.0% | -21.6% |
| 2006 | 5.9% | -26.4% |
| 2007 | 4.6% | -22.4% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | +18.8% |
| 2009 | 13.5% | +148.4% |
| 2010 | 16.7% | +23.3% |
| 2011 | 12.3% | -26.2% |
| 2012 | 10.0% | -18.7% |
| 2013 | 8.6% | -13.9% |
| 2014 | 7.4% | -14.8% |
| 2015 | 6.4% | -12.8% |
| 2016 | 6.9% | +7.3% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | -15.6% |
| 2018 | 5.4% | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | -16.6% |
| 2020 | 7.0% | +54.1% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | -11.2% |
| 2022 | 5.6% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 6.4% | +14.5% |
| 2024 | 7.6% | +19.2% |
| 2025 | 8.3% | +9.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.8% | 1.5% | 11.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.6% | 4.6% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.4% | 4.5% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.8% | 5.6% | 8.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More education data for Estonia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 9,391 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 706 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 27,252 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 25,046 (2012)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 103,245 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 89,246 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.065 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Estonia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Estonia was 8.3% 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 Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 16.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1991.
- How does Estonia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Estonia ranks 53rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Estonia 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.