Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Myanmar
Myanmar: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 3.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Myanmar, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Myanmar stood at 3.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.5% on the previous year and up 297.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Myanmar peaked at 4.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2019.
That places Myanmar 145th 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 Myanmar, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.8% | — |
| 1992 | 0.8% | -3.9% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 0.7% | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 0.8% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 0.7% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 1.1% | +38.1% |
| 2017 | 1.4% | +28.2% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -43.4% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | -46.9% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | +262.7% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | +194.0% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -29.4% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 2.9% | -3.0% |
| 2025 | 3.0% | +5.5% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 3.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 60% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 3.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Myanmar changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +262.7% | 0.4% | 1.5% |
| 2021 | +194.0% | 1.5% | 4.3% |
| 2019 | -46.9% | 0.8% | 0.4% |
| 2018 | -43.4% | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| 2016 | +38.1% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| 2022 | -29.4% | 4.3% | 3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 1.5% | 4.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
- 142 Slovenia 3.2% compare
- 143 Sierra Leone 3.1% compare
- 144 Nigeria 3.1% compare
- 146 Madagascar 3.0% compare
- 147 Saudi Arabia 3.0% compare
- 148 Ghana 3.0% compare
More education data for Myanmar
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 153,660 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 25,434 (2018)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 76,947 (2018)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,156 (2018)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.19 million (2018)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.30 million (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.64 % change on previous year (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1014 units per person (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Myanmar?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Myanmar was 3.0% 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 Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2019.
- How does Myanmar rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Myanmar ranks 145th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 297.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Myanmar 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.