Switzerland vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)

Switzerland
4.8%
in 2025
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
4.9%
in 2025
Switzerland rank
108th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
105th

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

  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
02.557.51012.5197119982025

How they compare

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 4.9% against 4.8% in Switzerland, a difference of 0.1%.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 51 shared years of data; in 1975 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.

Switzerland ranks 108th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 105th of 187 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, Switzerland averaged higher in 1 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 5.

Head to head by decade

Decade Switzerland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1970s 0.3% 4.8% 4.5% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1980s 0.4% 9.8% 9.4% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1990s 3.1% 8.1% 5.1% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2000s 3.6% 5.4% 1.8% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2010s 4.7% 6.1% 1.4% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2020s 4.5% 4.4% 0.1% Switzerland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), Switzerland or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 4.9% against 4.8% in Switzerland as of 2025.
What is the difference in unemployment, total (% of total labor force) between Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
0.1%, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
51 years are reported by both, from 1975 to 2025.
How do Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Switzerland ranks 108th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 105th 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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Switzerland vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force). Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/compare/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/switzerland/united-kingdom/

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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.