Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Iran
Iran: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 8.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Iran, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Iran recorded 8.3% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and down 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Iran peaked at 13.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 8.1%, in 2023.
Iran ranks 54th 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) (modeled ILO estimate) in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.1% | — |
| 1992 | 10.7% | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 10.6% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 10.5% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 9.9% | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 9.1% | -8.1% |
| 1997 | 9.7% | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 10.4% | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 11.2% | +7.9% |
| 2000 | 11.7% | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 12.4% | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 12.8% | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 11.5% | -9.9% |
| 2004 | 10.3% | -10.7% |
| 2005 | 11.8% | +14.7% |
| 2006 | 11.5% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 10.8% | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 10.6% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 12.1% | +14.0% |
| 2010 | 13.7% | +12.9% |
| 2011 | 12.5% | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 12.3% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 10.6% | -13.7% |
| 2014 | 10.7% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 11.2% | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 12.6% | +13.0% |
| 2017 | 12.2% | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 12.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 10.7% | -11.9% |
| 2020 | 9.7% | -9.8% |
| 2021 | 9.3% | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 9.1% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 8.1% | -10.5% |
| 2024 | 8.1% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 8.3% | +1.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 8.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 1.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran's 8.3% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.0%, 92% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.3% | 9.1% | 11.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.6% | 10.3% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.9% | 10.6% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.8% | 8.1% | 9.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More education data for Iran
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 406,399 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 108,066 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 519,698 (2020)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 505,053 (2020)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.62 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 9.09 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1003 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Iran?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Iran 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 13.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.1% in 2023.
- How does Iran rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Iran ranks 54th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran 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.