SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) was 1.74 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in United Arab Emirates, 2016–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 1.74 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.0% on the previous year and up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 4.29 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.64, in 2016.
United Arab Emirates ranks 73rd of 74 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1.64 | — |
| 2017 | 2.46 | +50.5% |
| 2018 | 2.24 | -9.2% |
| 2019 | 2.33 | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 4.29 | +84.2% |
| 2021 | 3.1 | -27.7% |
| 2022 | 2.87 | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 2.15 | -25.1% |
| 2024 | 1.88 | -12.8% |
| 2025 | 1.74 | -7.0% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 1.74 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.87, 36% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 1.74 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.02, 58% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.17 | 1.64 | 2.46 | 4 |
| 2020s | 2.67 | 1.74 | 4.29 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More work & labour data for United Arab Emirates
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.7692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7766 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 12,158 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,005 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 11,620 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 14,514 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 26,134 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in United Arab Emirates?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in United Arab Emirates was 1.74 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 4.29 in 2020.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.64 in 2016.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition)?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 73rd out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.