LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Asia

Southern Asia: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 6.61 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
6.61
Change on year
up 0.1%
Rank
69th
of 87 groups
All-time high
11.23
in 2004
All-time low
6.54
in 2024
Years of data
24
2004–2027

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Asia, 2004–2027

02.557.5102004201520272004: 11.22005: 11.12006: 112007: 10.82008: 10.92009: 10.92010: 10.72011: 10.62012: 10.82013: 10.52014: 10.22015: 10.22016: 102017: 102018: 9.92019: 8.92020: 10.22021: 8.82022: 7.32023: 6.62024: 6.52025: 6.62026: 6.62027: 6.6

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Asia is 6.61, measured in 2027.

The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 33.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Asia peaked at 11.23 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 6.54, in 2024.

That places Southern Asia 69th out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom 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 Southern Asia, year by year

Annual values for LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Southern Asia, 2004 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2004 11.23 —
2005 11.15 -0.7%
2006 10.97 -1.6%
2007 10.85 -1.1%
2008 10.9 +0.5%
2009 10.91 +0.2%
2010 10.71 -1.8%
2011 10.59 -1.1%
2012 10.81 +2.0%
2013 10.48 -3.0%
2014 10.2 -2.7%
2015 10.24 +0.4%
2016 10.05 -1.9%
2017 10 -0.5%
2018 9.93 -0.7%
2019 8.88 -10.6%
2020 10.16 +14.5%
2021 8.75 -13.8%
2022 7.26 -17.1%
2023 6.59 -9.2%
2024 6.54 -0.7%
2025 6.58 +0.6%
2026 6.6 +0.3%
2027 6.61 +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11 10.85 11.23 6
2010s 10.19 8.88 10.81 10
2020s 7.39 6.54 10.16 8

More work & labour data for Southern Asia

All data for Southern Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Asia?
Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Asia was 6.61 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Southern Asia?
The highest recorded value was 11.23 in 2004.
What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Southern Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 6.54 in 2024.
How does Southern Asia rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
Southern Asia ranks 69th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in Southern Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 33.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Southern Asia 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.

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LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Asia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu3-combined-rate-of-unemployment-and-potential-labour-force-ilo-modelled-estimates/southern-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (ILO modelled estimates)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
87 places, 2,088 data points, 2004–2027
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. 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.