Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia
South Asia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia stood at 4.2%.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 41.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia peaked at 7.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 2023.
That places South Asia 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.2% | — |
| 1992 | 7.2% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 7.2% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 7.2% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 7.2% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 7.1% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 7.2% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 7.2% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 7.2% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 7.2% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 7.3% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 7.2% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 7.3% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 7.4% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 7.2% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 7.2% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 7.3% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 7.3% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 7.3% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 7.3% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 7.2% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 7.3% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 6.3% | -13.4% |
| 2020 | 7.6% | +20.9% |
| 2021 | 6.3% | -17.0% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | -23.1% |
| 2023 | 4.2% | -14.5% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.2% | 7.1% | 7.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.3% | 7.2% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 6.3% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.2% | 4.2% | 7.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More education data for South Asia
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.5 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 160.82 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia was 4.2% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 2023.
- How does South Asia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- South Asia ranks 39th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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.