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

Western Asia: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 12.57 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
12.57
Change on year
up 1.2%
Rank
22nd
of 87 groups
All-time high
19.59
in 2009
All-time low
12.36
in 2025
Years of data
24
2004–2027

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

051015202004201520272004: 15.42005: 16.12006: 16.42007: 15.82008: 16.72009: 19.62010: 17.92011: 162012: 15.42013: 15.72014: 15.72015: 15.72016: 15.92017: 15.42018: 15.22019: 17.32020: 18.62021: 16.22022: 14.32023: 13.22024: 12.62025: 12.42026: 12.42027: 12.6

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Western Asia recorded 12.57 for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in 2027.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 18.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Western Asia peaked at 19.59 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 12.36, in 2025.

Western Asia ranks 22nd 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 Western Asia, year by year

Annual values for LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Western Asia, 2004 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2004 15.41
2005 16.15 +4.8%
2006 16.41 +1.7%
2007 15.77 -3.9%
2008 16.73 +6.1%
2009 19.59 +17.1%
2010 17.9 -8.6%
2011 15.97 -10.8%
2012 15.39 -3.6%
2013 15.71 +2.0%
2014 15.68 -0.2%
2015 15.68 -0.0%
2016 15.9 +1.4%
2017 15.39 -3.2%
2018 15.21 -1.2%
2019 17.34 +14.0%
2020 18.61 +7.3%
2021 16.21 -12.9%
2022 14.33 -11.6%
2023 13.25 -7.5%
2024 12.59 -5.0%
2025 12.36 -1.8%
2026 12.42 +0.6%
2027 12.57 +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 16.68 15.41 19.59 6
2010s 16.02 15.21 17.9 10
2020s 14.04 12.36 18.61 8

More work & labour data for Western Asia

All data for Western Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Western Asia?
Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Western Asia was 12.57 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Western Asia?
The highest recorded value was 19.59 in 2009.
What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Western Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 12.36 in 2025.
How does Western Asia rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
Western Asia ranks 22nd out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in Western Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Western 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 Western Asia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu3-combined-rate-of-unemployment-and-potential-labour-force-ilo-modelled-estimates/western-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.