LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Uruguay

Uruguay: LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) was 18.02 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
18.02
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
17th
of 75 countries
All-time high
36.24
in 2003
All-time low
12.69
in 1998
Years of data
26
1998–2025

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Uruguay, 1998–2025

0102030401998201120251998: 12.71999: 15.12000: 17.92001: 30.42002: 34.12003: 36.22004: 31.42005: 31.32006: 27.62007: 25.12008: 23.12009: 22.12010: 20.72011: 18.12012: 18.22013: 17.22014: 16.92015: 18.12016: 19.12017: 19.12018: 19.42019: 20.92022: 17.82023: 18.42024: 18.82025: 18

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Uruguay is 18.02, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of down 4.2% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Uruguay peaked at 36.24 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 12.69, in 1998.

That places Uruguay 17th out of 75 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Uruguay, year by year

Annual values for LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Uruguay, 1998 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1998 12.69
1999 15.12 +19.1%
2000 17.91 +18.5%
2001 30.4 +69.8%
2002 34.13 +12.3%
2003 36.24 +6.2%
2004 31.41 -13.4%
2005 31.34 -0.2%
2006 27.57 -12.0%
2007 25.1 -8.9%
2008 23.14 -7.8%
2009 22.12 -4.4%
2010 20.67 -6.6%
2011 18.05 -12.7%
2012 18.16 +0.6%
2013 17.2 -5.3%
2014 16.86 -2.0%
2015 18.13 +7.6%
2016 19.08 +5.2%
2017 19.07 -0.0%
2018 19.44 +1.9%
2019 20.87 +7.3%
2022 17.82 -14.6%
2023 18.42 +3.3%
2024 18.81 +2.1%
2025 18.02 -4.2%

Uruguay compared with similar countries

  • Uruguay's 18.02 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.43, 1.6× the median. (42 countries reporting)
  • Uruguay's 18.02 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 13.89, 1.3× the median. (14 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Uruguay changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2001 +69.8% 17.91 30.4

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 13.9 12.69 15.12 2
2000s 27.94 17.91 36.24 10
2010s 18.75 16.86 20.87 10
2020s 18.27 17.82 18.81 4

Countries ranked near Uruguay

  1. 14 Zambia 18.75 compare
  2. 15 Spain 18.65 compare
  3. 16 Costa Rica 18.62 compare
  4. 18 France 17.98 compare
  5. 19 Turkey 17.5 compare
  6. 20 Sweden 17.48 compare

See the full ranking of 75 places →

More work & labour data for Uruguay

All data for Uruguay →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Uruguay?
Lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Uruguay was 18.02 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) recorded in Uruguay?
The highest recorded value was 36.24 in 2003.
What is the lowest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) recorded in Uruguay?
The lowest recorded value was 12.69 in 1998.
How does Uruguay rank for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo)?
Uruguay ranks 17th out of 75 countries with data for 2025.
Is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) rising or falling in Uruguay?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Uruguay data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Uruguay. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu4-composite-rate-of-labour-underutilization-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/uruguay/

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About this data

Indicator
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
75 places, 1,249 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU4 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment, time-related underemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.