Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 6.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico is 6.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and down 50.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico peaked at 16.9% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2024.
That places Puerto Rico 77th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 16.2% | — |
| 1992 | 16.9% | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 16.9% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 14.6% | -13.7% |
| 1995 | 13.9% | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 13.6% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 13.8% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 13.5% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 11.8% | -12.3% |
| 2000 | 10.1% | -14.6% |
| 2001 | 11.4% | +13.1% |
| 2002 | 11.9% | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 11.8% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 10.3% | -12.5% |
| 2005 | 11.3% | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 11.0% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 10.9% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 11.5% | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 15.0% | +30.7% |
| 2010 | 16.1% | +7.3% |
| 2011 | 15.7% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 14.5% | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 14.3% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 13.9% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 12.0% | -13.7% |
| 2016 | 11.8% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 10.8% | -8.5% |
| 2018 | 9.2% | -14.8% |
| 2019 | 8.3% | -9.8% |
| 2020 | 8.9% | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 7.9% | -11.1% |
| 2022 | 6.0% | -24.1% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | -4.6% |
| 2024 | 5.6% | -1.5% |
| 2025 | 6.0% | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.6% | 11.8% | 16.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.5% | 10.1% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 8.3% | 16.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.7% | 5.6% | 8.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More education data for Puerto Rico
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -27.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -27.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 86,697 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate -27.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 84,830 (2024)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -6.76 % change on previous year (2016)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 15,316 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -3.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.022 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico was 6.0% 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 16.9% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2024.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Puerto Rico ranks 77th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.