SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Western Asia
Western Asia: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) was 8.17 in 2027. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Western Asia, 2000–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Western Asia is 8.17, measured in 2027.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and down 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Western Asia peaked at 13.15 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 7.97, in 2025.
That places Western Asia 14th out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Western Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.02 | — |
| 2001 | 9.22 | +15.0% |
| 2002 | 10.6 | +15.0% |
| 2003 | 10.6 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 10.69 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 10.41 | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 9.97 | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 9.83 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 10.63 | +8.2% |
| 2009 | 13.15 | +23.7% |
| 2010 | 11.55 | -12.2% |
| 2011 | 9.91 | -14.2% |
| 2012 | 9.43 | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 9.7 | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 9.71 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 9.9 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 10.23 | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 10.06 | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 10 | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 11.91 | +19.1% |
| 2020 | 11.71 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 10.76 | -8.1% |
| 2022 | 9.45 | -12.2% |
| 2023 | 8.59 | -9.1% |
| 2024 | 8.17 | -4.9% |
| 2025 | 7.97 | -2.5% |
| 2026 | 8.03 | +0.8% |
| 2027 | 8.17 | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.31 | 8.02 | 13.15 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.24 | 9.43 | 11.91 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.11 | 7.97 | 11.71 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Western Asia
More work & labour data for Western Asia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 271,171 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1407 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1411 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1403 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.7199 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.16 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 322,919 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 524,613 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 253,442 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 73,641 1000 No (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Western Asia?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Western Asia was 8.17 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Western Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.15 in 2009.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Western Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.97 in 2025.
- How does Western Asia rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition)?
- Western Asia ranks 14th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) rising or falling in Western Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Western Asia 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 — 28 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.