LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in MENA

MENA: LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was 13.87 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
13.87
Change on year
down 0.8%
Rank
23rd
of 87 groups
All-time high
17.61
in 2017
All-time low
13.73
in 2023
Years of data
23
2005–2027

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in MENA, 2005–2027

051015202005201620272005: 16.52006: 15.62007: 14.92008: 14.72009: 14.92010: 15.32011: 15.82012: 16.12013: 15.72014: 15.82015: 16.12016: 16.12017: 17.62018: 15.92019: 15.12020: 16.22021: 15.42022: 14.22023: 13.72024: 14.12025: 14.12026: 142027: 13.9

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2027, lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in MENA stood at 13.87.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 21.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in MENA peaked at 17.61 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 13.73, in 2023.

That places MENA 23rd out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in MENA, year by year

Annual values for LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA, 2005 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2005 16.45
2006 15.55 -5.5%
2007 14.88 -4.4%
2008 14.74 -0.9%
2009 14.94 +1.4%
2010 15.34 +2.7%
2011 15.83 +3.2%
2012 16.07 +1.5%
2013 15.72 -2.2%
2014 15.76 +0.3%
2015 16.09 +2.1%
2016 16.07 -0.1%
2017 17.61 +9.5%
2018 15.94 -9.5%
2019 15.14 -5.0%
2020 16.18 +6.9%
2021 15.35 -5.1%
2022 14.15 -7.8%
2023 13.73 -3.0%
2024 14.15 +3.1%
2025 14.07 -0.6%
2026 13.98 -0.6%
2027 13.87 -0.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.31 14.74 16.45 5
2010s 15.96 15.14 17.61 10
2020s 14.44 13.73 16.18 8

Countries ranked near MENA

  1. 20 Azerbaijan 23.35 compare
  2. 21 Lesotho 22.78 compare
  3. 22 Iraq 22.76 compare
  4. 23 Somalia 22.46 compare
  5. 24 Rwanda 22.27 compare
  6. 25 Ecuador 22.01 compare
  7. 26 Suriname 20.45 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for MENA

All data for MENA →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in MENA?
Lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in MENA was 13.87 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in MENA?
The highest recorded value was 17.61 in 2017.
What is the lowest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in MENA?
The lowest recorded value was 13.73 in 2023.
How does MENA rank for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment?
MENA ranks 23rd out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment rising or falling in MENA?
Over the last ten years it is down 21.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this MENA data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in MENA. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu2-combined-rate-of-time-related-underemployment-and-unemployment-ilo-modelled-estimates-2/mena/

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About this data

Indicator
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 6,324 data points, 2005–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. LU2 represents the share of the labour force that are either in unemployment or time-related underemployment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.