Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total was 20.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
20.9%
Change on year
down 12.6%
World rank
36th
of 45 countries
All-time high
36.9%
in 2013
All-time low
20.6%
in 2004
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom, 1998–2020

0102030401998200920201998: 33 Percentage1999: 29.2 Percentage2000: 26.4 Percentage2001: 23.7 Percentage2002: 21 Percentage2003: 21.7 Percentage2004: 20.6 Percentage2005: 21.1 Percentage2006: 24.1 Percentage2007: 24.9 Percentage2008: 23.6 Percentage2009: 27.8 Percentage2010: 34.4 Percentage2011: 33.1 Percentage2012: 35.6 Percentage2013: 36.9 Percentage2014: 35.3 Percentage2015: 30.2 Percentage2016: 26.7 Percentage2017: 26.4 Percentage2018: 27 Percentage2019: 23.9 Percentage2020: 20.9 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom is 20.9%, measured in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.6% on the previous year and down 39.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom peaked at 36.9% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 20.6%, in 2004.

That places United Kingdom 36th out of 45 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total unemployment - quarterly data in United Kingdom, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 33.0%
1999 29.2% -11.5%
2000 26.4% -9.6%
2001 23.7% -10.2%
2002 21.0% -11.4%
2003 21.7% +3.3%
2004 20.6% -5.1%
2005 21.1% +2.4%
2006 24.1% +14.2%
2007 24.9% +3.3%
2008 23.6% -5.2%
2009 27.8% +17.8%
2010 34.4% +23.7%
2011 33.1% -3.8%
2012 35.6% +7.6%
2013 36.9% +3.7%
2014 35.3% -4.3%
2015 30.2% -14.4%
2016 26.7% -11.6%
2017 26.4% -1.1%
2018 27.0% +2.3%
2019 23.9% -11.5%
2020 20.9% -12.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 31.1% 29.2% 33.0% 2
2000s 23.5% 20.6% 27.8% 10
2010s 30.9% 23.9% 36.9% 10
2020s 20.9% 20.9% 20.9% 1

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 33 Estonia 22.4% compare
  2. 33 Estonia 22.4% compare
  3. 35 Austria 21.1% compare
  4. 36 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 20.9% compare
  5. 38 Malta 20.4% compare
  6. 39 Cyprus 20.3% compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom?
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom was 20.9% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 36.9% in 2013.
What is the lowest persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 20.6% in 2004.
How does United Kingdom rank for persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total?
United Kingdom ranks 36th out of 45 countries with data for 2020.
Is persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 39.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom 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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Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/persons-in-long-term-unemployment-12-months-or-more-percent-of-total-unemployment/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total unemployment - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,235 data points, 1998–2026
Last refreshed