Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 8.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) is 8.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 9.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.8%, in 2008.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.0% | — |
| 1992 | 8.1% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 8.7% | +6.6% |
| 1994 | 8.7% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 9.0% | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 8.2% | -9.1% |
| 1997 | 8.0% | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 8.1% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 8.4% | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 8.7% | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 8.7% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 8.7% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 8.5% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 7.6% | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 7.8% | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | -5.9% |
| 2007 | 7.0% | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 6.8% | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 6.9% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 7.1% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 8.8% | +17.4% |
| 2013 | 8.4% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 8.1% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 9.0% | +11.0% |
| 2016 | 8.7% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 9.2% | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 9.2% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 9.0% | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 9.7% | +8.0% |
| 2021 | 9.6% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 8.8% | -7.9% |
| 2023 | 8.6% | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 8.7% | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 8.7% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.4% | 8.0% | 9.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.8% | 6.8% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.5% | 7.1% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.0% | 8.6% | 9.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
More education data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- Population ages 15-64 62.1% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 32.6% (2025)
- Number of infant deaths, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Number of under-five deaths, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, female, annual growth rate -2.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Number of infant deaths, male, per capita 0.0004 units per person (2024)
- Number of under-five deaths, female, annual growth rate -3.23 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) was 8.7% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.8% in 2008.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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.