SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) was 4.9 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in United Kingdom, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 4.9 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in 2025.
The figure is up 12.3% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in United Kingdom peaked at 6.4 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 3.66, in 2019.
United Kingdom ranks 40th of 74 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 6.4 | — |
| 2015 | 5.55 | -13.2% |
| 2016 | 4.91 | -11.6% |
| 2017 | 4.5 | -8.3% |
| 2018 | 4.14 | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 3.66 | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 4.52 | +23.5% |
| 2021 | 4.87 | +7.7% |
| 2022 | 3.77 | -22.5% |
| 2023 | 4.03 | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 4.36 | +8.3% |
| 2025 | 4.9 | +12.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 4.9 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.87, 1.0× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 4.9 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.82, 84% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.86 | 3.66 | 6.4 | 6 |
| 2020s | 4.41 | 3.77 | 4.9 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.93 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.07 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 111,361 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,223 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in United Kingdom?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in United Kingdom was 4.9 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4 in 2014.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.66 in 2019.
- How does United Kingdom rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition)?
- United Kingdom ranks 40th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 12 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.