Incidence of unemployment by duration in OECD
OECD: Incidence of unemployment by duration was 27.97 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
27.97 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
Change on year
down 2.4%
World rank
9th
of 38 countries
All-time high
29.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
in 2020
All-time low
17.08 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
in 1994
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Incidence of unemployment by duration in OECD, 1983–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
OECD recorded 27.97 Percentage of population in the same subgroup for incidence of unemployment by duration in 2025.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and up 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, incidence of unemployment by duration in OECD peaked at 29.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.08 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, in 1994.
OECD ranks 9th of 38 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Incidence of unemployment by duration in OECD, year by year
| Year | Percentage of population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 19.55 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | — |
| 1984 | 19.77 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 19.09 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 18.29 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -4.2% |
| 1987 | 17.56 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 17.58 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 18.27 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 20.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +12.9% |
| 1991 | 21.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 19.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -9.6% |
| 1993 | 17.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -9.8% |
| 1994 | 17.08 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 18.51 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +8.4% |
| 1996 | 18.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 18.47 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 20.42 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +10.6% |
| 1999 | 21.21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 21.87 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 22.63 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 22.56 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 22.43 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 21.9 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 22.24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 22.15 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 24.55 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +10.8% |
| 2008 | 26.13 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 24.85 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 22.18 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -10.7% |
| 2011 | 22.06 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 21.76 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 21.3 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 22.24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 23.12 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 24.68 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 25.16 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 26.52 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 27.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 29.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 23.61 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -19.6% |
| 2022 | 26.73 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +13.2% |
| 2023 | 28.25 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 28.66 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 27.97 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18.59 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 17.56 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 19.77 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 7 |
| 1990s | 19.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 17.08 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 21.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.13 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 21.87 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 26.13 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.61 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 21.3 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 27.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.43 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 23.61 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 29.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near OECD
- 6 Austria 28.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 7 Denmark 28.04 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 8 Norway 28.02 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 10 Israel 27.21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 11 Iceland 26.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 12 Canada 26.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
More work & labour data for OECD
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 32 - Employment by 37,610 Persons (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 32 - Employment by 36,963 Persons (2022)
- Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels 666,682 Persons (2025)
- Unemployed population — Unemployment 34,262 Persons (2024)
- Average annual hours actually worked per worker — Hours worked 1,736 Hours per year per person (2025)
- Monthly unemployment levels 34,246 Persons (2024)
- Gender share of part-time employment 65.83 Percentage of population in the same subgroup (2025)
- Full-time and part-time employment based on national definition 504,527 Persons (2025)
- Full-time and part-time employment 504,527 Persons (2025)
- Incidence of full-time and part-time employment based on national 79.66 Percentage of population in the same subgroup (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is incidence of unemployment by duration in OECD?
- Incidence of unemployment by duration in OECD was 27.97 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in OECD?
- The highest recorded value was 29.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2020.
- What is the lowest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in OECD?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.08 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1994.
- How does OECD rank for incidence of unemployment by duration?
- OECD ranks 9th out of 38 countries with data for 2025.
- Is incidence of unemployment by duration rising or falling in OECD?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this OECD data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Incidence of unemployment by duration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table contains data on the share of the five durations - less than 1 month,>1 month and < 3 months,>3 months and <6 months,>6 months and <1 year, 1 year and over - of unemployment among total unemployment by sex and by standardised age groups (15-19, 15-24, 20-24, 25-54, 55+, total). Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.