Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC): Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) stood at 4.1%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) peaked at 5.2% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2025.
Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) ranks 41st of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.1% | — |
| 1992 | 5.2% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 5.2% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 5.2% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 5.0% | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 5.0% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 4.9% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 5.0% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 5.1% | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 5.1% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 5.1% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 5.0% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 5.0% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 4.9% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 4.7% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 4.6% | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 4.5% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 4.5% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 4.6% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 4.7% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 4.6% | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 4.3% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 4.4% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 4.4% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 4.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +16.0% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 4.4% | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 4.2% | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 4.1% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.1% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 4.1% | 5.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
- 38 Mauritania 10.3% compare
- 39 Ukraine 9.8% compare
- 40 Finland 9.5% compare
- 41 Saint Lucia 9.5% compare
- 42 Zimbabwe 9.3% compare
- 43 Bahamas 9.2% compare
- 44 Sao Tome and Principe 9.1% compare
More education data for Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 55.15 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 148.37 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1578 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 55.7% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 41.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) was 4.1% 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 Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2025.
- How does Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) ranks 41st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 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.