Monthly unemployment rates in Spain
Spain: Monthly unemployment rates was 10.52 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025. ▼ Falling
Monthly unemployment rates in Spain, 1987–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Analysis
In 2025, monthly unemployment rates in Spain stood at 10.52 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.4% on the previous year and down 52.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly unemployment rates in Spain peaked at 26.12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2013 and was at its lowest, 8.22 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, in 2007.
That places Spain 1st out of 32 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 39 years of available data.
Monthly unemployment rates in Spain, year by year
| Year | Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 19.72 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | — |
| 1988 | 18.69 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -5.2% |
| 1989 | 16.54 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -11.5% |
| 1990 | 15.46 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -6.5% |
| 1991 | 15.5 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 17.02 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +9.8% |
| 1993 | 20.84 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +22.5% |
| 1994 | 22.05 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +5.8% |
| 1995 | 20.75 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 19.89 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 18.39 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.5% |
| 1998 | 16.41 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -10.8% |
| 1999 | 13.6 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -17.1% |
| 2000 | 11.92 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -12.4% |
| 2001 | 10.56 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -11.4% |
| 2002 | 11.44 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 11.49 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 10.96 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 9.17 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -16.3% |
| 2006 | 8.46 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.7% |
| 2007 | 8.22 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 11.27 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +37.0% |
| 2009 | 17.87 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +58.6% |
| 2010 | 19.88 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 21.41 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 24.79 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +15.8% |
| 2013 | 26.12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 24.45 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 22.07 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -9.7% |
| 2016 | 19.65 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -11.0% |
| 2017 | 17.23 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -12.3% |
| 2018 | 15.27 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -11.4% |
| 2019 | 14.11 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 15.53 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +10.1% |
| 2021 | 14.93 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 13.03 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -12.7% |
| 2023 | 12.19 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -6.5% |
| 2024 | 11.36 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -6.8% |
| 2025 | 10.52 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.4% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 10.52 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.68 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, 1.9× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Spain's 10.52 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.04 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, 1.7× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Monthly unemployment rates in Spain 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +58.6% | 11.27 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 17.87 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18.32 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 16.54 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 19.72 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3 |
| 1990s | 17.99 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 13.6 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 22.05 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.14 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 8.22 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 17.87 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.5 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 14.11 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 26.12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.93 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10.52 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 15.53 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 1 Türkiye 8.36 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 2 Estonia 7.44 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 2 Finland 9.68 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 2 Croatia 4.86 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 3 Colombia 8.9 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 3 Latvia 6.94 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 4 Greece 8.89 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 4 Lithuania 6.91 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
More work & labour data for Spain
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5576 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4982 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.05 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1207 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,073 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,322 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,076 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 16,051 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 33,128 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is monthly unemployment rates in Spain?
- Monthly unemployment rates in Spain was 10.52 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest monthly unemployment rates recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 26.12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2013.
- What is the lowest monthly unemployment rates recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.22 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2007.
- How does Spain rank for monthly unemployment rates?
- Spain ranks 1st out of 32 countries with data for 2025.
- Is monthly unemployment rates rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Monthly unemployment rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployment rate is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. The unemployment rate is calculated as the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force (i.e., the unemployed plus those in employment). The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.