Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union
European Union: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 5.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
European Union recorded 5.9% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 40.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union peaked at 11.5% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 2024.
That places European Union 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.6% | — |
| 1992 | 9.2% | +7.5% |
| 1993 | 10.9% | +17.6% |
| 1994 | 11.5% | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 11.1% | -3.8% |
| 1996 | 11.1% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 10.9% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 10.5% | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 10.2% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 9.7% | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 9.2% | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 9.6% | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 9.7% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 9.9% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 9.6% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 8.7% | -9.8% |
| 2007 | 7.5% | -13.6% |
| 2008 | 7.2% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 9.2% | +27.2% |
| 2010 | 9.9% | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 9.9% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 10.9% | +9.5% |
| 2013 | 11.4% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 10.8% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 10.0% | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 9.1% | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 8.1% | -10.7% |
| 2018 | 7.2% | -10.9% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | -7.8% |
| 2020 | 7.1% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 7.0% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 6.2% | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 6.0% | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 5.9% | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 5.9% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.5% | 8.6% | 11.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 7.2% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 6.7% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.4% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More education data for European Union
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 14.2% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0517 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 1.89 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.26 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union was 5.9% 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 European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 11.5% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 2024.
- How does European Union rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- European Union ranks 11th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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.