SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Estonia
Estonia: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 8.12 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Estonia, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Estonia is 8.12, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 27.8% on the previous year and up 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Estonia peaked at 17.24 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 5.02, in 2019.
That places Estonia 18th out of 57 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Estonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 11.24 | — |
| 2005 | 9.27 | -17.6% |
| 2006 | 7.11 | -23.3% |
| 2007 | 5.18 | -27.1% |
| 2008 | 5.18 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 12.27 | +136.8% |
| 2010 | 17.24 | +40.5% |
| 2011 | 12.3 | -28.7% |
| 2012 | 10.23 | -16.8% |
| 2013 | 9.96 | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 7.72 | -22.5% |
| 2015 | 6.92 | -10.4% |
| 2016 | 6.82 | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 5.78 | -15.1% |
| 2018 | 5.64 | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 5.02 | -10.9% |
| 2020 | 6.31 | +25.6% |
| 2021 | 8.01 | +26.9% |
| 2022 | 5.7 | -28.8% |
| 2023 | 6.27 | +10.0% |
| 2024 | 6.35 | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 8.12 | +27.8% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 8.12 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.26, 1.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 8.12 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.65, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Estonia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +136.8% | 5.18 | 12.27 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.38 | 5.18 | 12.27 | 6 |
| 2010s | 8.76 | 5.02 | 17.24 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.79 | 5.7 | 8.12 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More work & labour data for Estonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1039 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 885.23 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 259.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 417.66 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 407.84 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 825.5 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Estonia?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Estonia was 8.12 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 17.24 in 2010.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.02 in 2019.
- How does Estonia rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
- Estonia ranks 18th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Estonia 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). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.