Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 7.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan stood at 7.8%.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 9.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 2008.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 5th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.0% | — |
| 1992 | 8.1% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 8.5% | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 8.5% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 8.7% | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 8.0% | -8.9% |
| 1997 | 7.8% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 7.9% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 8.1% | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 8.4% | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 8.4% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 8.5% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 8.3% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 7.5% | -9.1% |
| 2005 | 7.7% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 6.8% | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 6.6% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 6.7% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 6.9% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 8.3% | +15.4% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 7.6% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 8.4% | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 8.1% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 8.5% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 8.3% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 9.1% | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 9.0% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | -8.5% |
| 2023 | 7.8% | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 7.8% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 7.8% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.2% | 7.8% | 8.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.6% | 6.6% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.0% | 6.9% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.3% | 7.8% | 9.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More education data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.113 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 31.7% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.1% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 68.09 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 91.90 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 7.8% 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?
- The highest recorded value was 9.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 2008.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 5th 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?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.