SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Latvia
Latvia: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 7.42 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Latvia, 2005–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Latvia recorded 7.42 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in 2025.
That represents a change of up 4.6% on the previous year and down 34.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Latvia peaked at 23.93 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 6.99, in 2007.
Latvia ranks 20th of 57 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Latvia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 11.88 | — |
| 2006 | 9.54 | -19.7% |
| 2007 | 6.99 | -26.7% |
| 2008 | 8.96 | +28.1% |
| 2009 | 22.59 | +152.2% |
| 2010 | 23.93 | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 21.05 | -12.0% |
| 2012 | 18.48 | -12.2% |
| 2013 | 14.98 | -19.0% |
| 2014 | 13.75 | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 11.32 | -17.7% |
| 2016 | 11.39 | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 10.65 | -6.5% |
| 2018 | 9.35 | -12.2% |
| 2019 | 9.42 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 10.48 | +11.2% |
| 2021 | 8.8 | -16.0% |
| 2022 | 7.22 | -18.0% |
| 2023 | 8.17 | +13.2% |
| 2024 | 7.09 | -13.2% |
| 2025 | 7.42 | +4.6% |
Latvia compared with similar countries
- Latvia's 7.42 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.26, 1.2× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Latvia's 7.42 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.65, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Latvia 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 | +152.2% | 8.96 | 22.59 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.99 | 6.99 | 22.59 | 5 |
| 2010s | 14.43 | 9.35 | 23.93 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.2 | 7.09 | 10.48 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latvia
More work & labour data for Latvia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.04 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.2718 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,152 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 365.13 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 470.3 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 455.07 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 925.37 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Latvia?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Latvia was 7.42 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Latvia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.93 in 2010.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Latvia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.99 in 2007.
- How does Latvia rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
- Latvia ranks 20th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in Latvia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latvia 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 — 21 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.