Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 20.9% for persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in 2020.

The figure 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 36.9% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 20.6%, in 2004.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total unemployment - quarterly data in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 20.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.4%, 69% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 20.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 29.8%, 70% of the median. (31 countries reporting)

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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 33 Estonia 22.4% compare
  2. 33 Estonia 22.4% compare
  3. 35 Austria 21.1% compare
  4. 36 United Kingdom 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 20.6% in 2004.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
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 of Great Britain and Northern 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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Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/persons-in-long-term-unemployment-12-months-or-more-percent-of-total-unemployment/united-kingdom/

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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