LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in MENA
MENA: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 17.93 in 2027. ▼ Falling
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in MENA, 2004–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in MENA is 17.93, measured in 2027.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in MENA peaked at 20.79 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.75, in 2023.
MENA ranks 10th of 87 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in MENA, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 20.6 | — |
| 2005 | 20.58 | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 19.65 | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 19.16 | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 18.81 | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 18.66 | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 19.06 | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 19.95 | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 20.36 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 19.95 | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 20.02 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 20.49 | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 20.38 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 20.63 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 20.09 | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 19.35 | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 20.79 | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 19.94 | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 18.52 | -7.1% |
| 2023 | 17.75 | -4.1% |
| 2024 | 18.13 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 18.09 | -0.3% |
| 2026 | 18.02 | -0.3% |
| 2027 | 17.93 | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.58 | 18.66 | 20.6 | 6 |
| 2010s | 20.03 | 19.06 | 20.63 | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.65 | 17.75 | 20.79 | 8 |
More work & labour data for MENA
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 230,676 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 185,145 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 44.52 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 2.46 % change on previous year (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 23,896 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 40.38 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 63,778 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.49 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 9.31 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in MENA?
- Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in MENA was 17.93 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in MENA?
- The highest recorded value was 20.79 in 2020.
- What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in MENA?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.75 in 2023.
- How does MENA rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
- MENA ranks 10th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in MENA?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.1%. 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 LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
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. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.