Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Macao
Macao: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 2.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Macao, 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 Macao is 2.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.8% on the previous year and up 29.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Macao peaked at 6.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2014.
That places Macao 165th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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) (modeled ILO estimate) in Macao, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.0% | — |
| 1992 | 2.2% | -27.0% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | -6.3% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | +20.6% |
| 1995 | 3.6% | +44.4% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | +19.0% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | -24.3% |
| 1998 | 4.6% | +42.9% |
| 1999 | 6.3% | +37.6% |
| 2000 | 6.9% | +8.4% |
| 2001 | 6.4% | -7.3% |
| 2002 | 6.3% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 6.0% | -4.5% |
| 2004 | 4.9% | -18.2% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -15.2% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | -8.1% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | -14.5% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -8.3% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +19.4% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -20.7% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | -9.9% |
| 2012 | 2.0% | -23.0% |
| 2013 | 1.8% | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 1.9% | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | -9.0% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 2.5% | +46.9% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | -12.6% |
| 2022 | 2.4% | +10.1% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | -9.8% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 2.3% | +3.8% |
Macao compared with similar countries
- Macao's 2.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 47% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Macao's 2.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 77% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.5% | 2.1% | 6.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | 3.0% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.0% | 1.7% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Macao
- 162 Guatemala 2.6% compare
- 163 Papua New Guinea 2.6% compare
- 164 Japan 2.5% compare
- 166 Cote d'Ivoire 2.3% compare
- 167 Philippines 2.2% compare
- 168 Kuwait 2.2% compare
More education data for Macao
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2,938 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 239 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 8,379 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 7,809 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 31,617 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 38,349 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0558 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Macao?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Macao was 2.3% 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 Macao?
- The highest recorded value was 6.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Macao?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2014.
- How does Macao rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Macao ranks 165th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Macao?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Macao 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.