Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 12.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in North Macedonia, 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 North Macedonia is 12.3%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 53.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in North Macedonia peaked at 38.8% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 2025.
North Macedonia ranks 24th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 24.5% | — |
| 1992 | 26.3% | +7.3% |
| 1993 | 27.7% | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 30.0% | +8.3% |
| 1995 | 35.6% | +18.7% |
| 1996 | 38.8% | +9.0% |
| 1997 | 36.0% | -7.2% |
| 1998 | 34.5% | -4.2% |
| 1999 | 32.4% | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 32.2% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 30.5% | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 31.9% | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 36.7% | +14.9% |
| 2004 | 37.2% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 37.3% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 36.4% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 35.2% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 33.9% | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 32.4% | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 33.1% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 31.5% | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 31.1% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 29.0% | -6.7% |
| 2014 | 28.2% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 26.4% | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 24.3% | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 22.9% | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 21.2% | -7.2% |
| 2019 | 17.4% | -17.9% |
| 2020 | 16.6% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 14.5% | -8.4% |
| 2023 | 13.2% | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 12.3% | -6.9% |
| 2025 | 12.3% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.8% | 24.5% | 38.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 34.4% | 30.5% | 37.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.5% | 17.4% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 12.3% | 16.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
- 21 Afghanistan 13.4% compare
- 22 Armenia 12.9% compare
- 23 South Sudan 12.4% compare
- 25 Georgia 12.1% compare
- 26 Guyana 12.0% compare
- 27 Cape Verde 11.9% compare
More education data for North Macedonia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 18,794 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 15,086 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13,978 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 150,231 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 105,461 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8051 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0577 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in North Macedonia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in North Macedonia was 12.3% 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 38.8% in 1996.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 2025.
- How does North Macedonia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- North Macedonia ranks 24th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.