Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Moldova
Moldova: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 1.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Moldova, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Moldova recorded 1.5% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 5.5% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Moldova peaked at 11.1% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2021.
That places Moldova 178th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Moldova, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.9% | — |
| 1992 | 3.7% | +94.7% |
| 1993 | 3.7% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 5.8% | +56.8% |
| 1995 | 5.3% | -8.6% |
| 1996 | 7.9% | +49.1% |
| 1997 | 7.9% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 10.0% | +26.6% |
| 1999 | 11.1% | +11.4% |
| 2000 | 8.5% | -23.3% |
| 2001 | 7.4% | -13.7% |
| 2002 | 6.8% | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 6.4% | -6.8% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 5.6% | -11.6% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | -24.4% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | -35.5% |
| 2008 | 2.1% | -23.7% |
| 2009 | 3.0% | +44.2% |
| 2010 | 3.0% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -9.9% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | -18.2% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | -13.5% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | -23.4% |
| 2015 | 1.8% | +22.8% |
| 2016 | 1.6% | -10.7% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | -23.6% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | +21.2% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | -19.7% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | -34.2% |
| 2022 | 0.9% | +14.5% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | +72.7% |
| 2024 | 1.4% | -9.1% |
| 2025 | 1.5% | +5.5% |
Moldova compared with similar countries
- Moldova's 1.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 27% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Moldova's 1.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 27% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.4% | 1.9% | 11.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 2.1% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.2% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Moldova
More education data for Moldova
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 19,388 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 59,198 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 54,914 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 228,038 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 136,696 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.387 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0569 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Moldova?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Moldova was 1.5% 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 Moldova?
- The highest recorded value was 11.1% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Moldova?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2021.
- How does Moldova rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Moldova ranks 178th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Moldova?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Moldova 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.