Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Ireland
Ireland: Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total was 29.8% in 2026. ▼ Falling
Latest (2026)
29.8%
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
24th
of 45 countries
All-time high
61.5%
in 2011
All-time low
23.0%
in 2008
Years of data
29
1998–2026
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Ireland, 1998–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
In 2026, persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Ireland stood at 29.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and down 43.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Ireland peaked at 61.5% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 23.0%, in 2008.
Ireland ranks 24th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 54.0% | — |
| 1999 | 44.8% | -17.0% |
| 2000 | 40.1% | -10.5% |
| 2001 | 34.3% | -14.5% |
| 2002 | 33.7% | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 35.2% | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 37.7% | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 34.7% | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 33.8% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 29.2% | -13.6% |
| 2008 | 23.0% | -21.2% |
| 2009 | 38.1% | +65.7% |
| 2010 | 54.2% | +42.3% |
| 2011 | 61.5% | +13.5% |
| 2012 | 58.3% | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 60.0% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 56.4% | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 53.5% | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 52.6% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 42.8% | -18.6% |
| 2018 | 39.7% | -7.2% |
| 2019 | 36.7% | -7.6% |
| 2020 | 27.0% | -26.4% |
| 2021 | 36.5% | +35.2% |
| 2022 | 32.8% | -10.1% |
| 2023 | 26.6% | -18.9% |
| 2024 | 25.1% | -5.6% |
| 2025 | 29.0% | +15.5% |
| 2026 | 29.8% | +2.8% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 29.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.4%, 98% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 29.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.8%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.4% | 44.8% | 54.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 34.0% | 23.0% | 40.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.6% | 36.7% | 61.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.5% | 25.1% | 36.5% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Ireland?
- Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Ireland was 29.8% in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 61.5% in 2011.
- What is the lowest persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.0% in 2008.
- How does Ireland rank for persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total?
- Ireland ranks 24th out of 45 countries with data for 2026.
- Is persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total unemployment - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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