Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 2.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Papua New Guinea, 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 Papua New Guinea is 2.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Papua New Guinea peaked at 3.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 2010.
Papua New Guinea ranks 163rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.8% | — |
| 1992 | 2.6% | -6.6% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | -8.7% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 2.6% | +7.7% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 2.9% | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 2.9% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 2.9% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 2.9% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 2.8% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 2.3% | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 2.2% | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 2.2% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 2.1% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 2.0% | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | +30.9% |
| 2012 | 2.6% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 2.5% | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | -11.3% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 2.6% | -2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.7% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.1% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 2.0% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.7% | 2.6% | 3.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
- 160 Guinea-Bissau 2.7% compare
- 160 Mexico 2.7% compare
- 162 Guatemala 2.6% compare
- 164 Japan 2.5% compare
- 165 Macau, China 2.3% compare
- 166 Côte d'Ivoire 2.3% compare
More education data for Papua New Guinea
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 14,791 (2016)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 80,915 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 226,545 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 208,353 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 655,030 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.65 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 10.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1593 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Papua New Guinea?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Papua New Guinea was 2.6% 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 Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 2010.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 163rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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.