Germany vs Netherlands: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)

Germany
3.8%
in 2025
Netherlands
3.9%
in 2025
Germany rank
131st
Netherlands rank
128th

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) over time

  • Germany
  • Netherlands
2.557.51012.515197520002025

How they compare

Netherlands currently reports 3.9% against 3.8% in Germany, a difference of 0.1%.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 42 shared years of data; in 1983 it was Netherlands ahead.

Germany ranks 131st and Netherlands ranks 128th of 187 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, Germany averaged higher in 2 and Netherlands in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade Germany Netherlands Difference Ahead
1980s 6.5% 10.8% 4.3% Netherlands
1990s 7.8% 6.1% 1.7% Germany
2000s 9.0% 3.9% 5.2% Germany
2010s 4.8% 5.5% 0.8% Netherlands
2020s 3.4% 3.8% 0.3% Netherlands

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), Germany or Netherlands?
Netherlands, at 3.9% against 3.8% in Germany as of 2025.
What is the difference in unemployment, total (% of total labor force) between Germany and Netherlands?
0.1%, with Netherlands ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and Netherlands?
42 years are reported by both, from 1983 to 2025.
How do Germany and Netherlands rank globally for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Germany ranks 131st and Netherlands ranks 128th of 187 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Germany vs Netherlands: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force). Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/germany/netherlands/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 6,054 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.