SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Canada
Canada: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) was 6.82 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Canada, 2000–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Canada stood at 6.82.
The figure is up 7.5% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Canada peaked at 9.66 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.27, in 2022.
Canada ranks 60th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.83 | — |
| 2001 | 7.22 | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 7.67 | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 7.57 | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 7.18 | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 6.76 | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 6.48 | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 6.16 | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 6.28 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 8.46 | +34.6% |
| 2010 | 8.18 | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 7.66 | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 7.43 | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 7.18 | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 7.05 | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 6.99 | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 7.07 | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 6.44 | -8.8% |
| 2018 | 5.84 | -9.3% |
| 2019 | 5.69 | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 9.66 | +69.8% |
| 2021 | 7.52 | -22.2% |
| 2022 | 5.27 | -29.9% |
| 2023 | 5.39 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 6.34 | +17.7% |
| 2025 | 6.82 | +7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.06 | 6.16 | 8.46 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.95 | 5.69 | 8.18 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.83 | 5.27 | 9.66 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More work & labour data for Canada
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3334 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6552 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,234 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,715 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 26,798 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 26,814 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 53,612 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Canada?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Canada was 6.82 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 9.66 in 2020.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.27 in 2022.
- How does Canada rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition)?
- Canada ranks 60th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 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.