Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Least developed countries, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Least developed countries is 4.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Least developed countries peaked at 5.7% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 1997.
That places Least developed countries 29th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.5% | — |
| 1992 | 4.6% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 4.6% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 4.6% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 4.5% | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 4.5% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 4.5% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 4.6% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 4.8% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 4.9% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 4.8% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 4.8% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 4.7% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 4.8% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 4.9% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 4.8% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 4.9% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 4.8% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 4.7% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 5.0% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 4.9% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 5.1% | -11.9% |
| 2023 | 4.7% | -7.0% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | -1.5% |
| 2025 | 4.7% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.8% | 4.7% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.1% | 4.6% | 5.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 26 Guyana 12.0% compare
- 27 Cape Verde 11.9% compare
- 28 French Polynesia 11.7% compare
- 29 Algeria 11.6% compare
- 30 United States Virgin Islands 11.4% compare
- 31 Rwanda 11.4% compare
- 32 New Caledonia 11.2% compare
More education data for Least developed countries
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1441 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 171.01 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 75.92 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Least developed countries?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Least developed countries was 4.7% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 5.7% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 1997.
- How does Least developed countries rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Least developed countries ranks 29th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed 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.