SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Netherlands
Netherlands: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 3.88 in 2025. ▲ Rising
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Netherlands, 2005–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 3.88 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in 2025.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and down 43.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Netherlands peaked at 6.85 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1.82, in 2008.
Netherlands ranks 46th of 57 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4.05 | — |
| 2006 | 3.47 | -14.5% |
| 2007 | 2.36 | -32.0% |
| 2008 | 1.82 | -22.9% |
| 2009 | 2.57 | +41.3% |
| 2010 | 3.93 | +53.1% |
| 2011 | 3.72 | -5.4% |
| 2012 | 4.15 | +11.6% |
| 2013 | 5.61 | +35.1% |
| 2014 | 6.84 | +22.0% |
| 2015 | 6.85 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 6.34 | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 4.65 | -26.6% |
| 2018 | 3.57 | -23.2% |
| 2019 | 3.67 | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 3.74 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 4.56 | +22.0% |
| 2022 | 3.79 | -16.9% |
| 2023 | 4.43 | +16.9% |
| 2024 | 3.77 | -14.8% |
| 2025 | 3.88 | +2.7% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 3.88 is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.26, 62% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 3.88 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.65, 58% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.85 | 1.82 | 4.05 | 5 |
| 2010s | 4.93 | 3.57 | 6.85 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.03 | 3.74 | 4.56 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More work & labour data for Netherlands
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 5,256 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 66.71 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 10,535 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.03 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.834 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 130,584 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 94,797 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 64.03 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.4 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.1112 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Netherlands?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Netherlands was 3.88 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 6.85 in 2015.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.82 in 2008.
- How does Netherlands rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
- Netherlands ranks 46th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.