Unemployed population — Unemployment in Ireland

Ireland: Unemployed population — Unemployment was 137.15 Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
137.15 Persons
Change on year
up 11.5%
World rank
30th
of 35 countries
All-time high
343.65 Persons
in 2012
All-time low
51 Persons
in 1965
Years of data
70
1956–2025

Unemployed population — Unemployment in Ireland, 1956–2025

100200300195619902025

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployed population — unemployment in Ireland is 137.15 Persons, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of up 11.5% on the previous year and down 39.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed population — unemployment in Ireland peaked at 343.65 Persons in 2012 and was at its lowest, 51 Persons, in 1965.

That places Ireland 30th out of 35 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 70.75 Persons 63 Persons 78 Persons 4
1960s 58.66 Persons 51 Persons 71.1 Persons 10
1970s 83.91 Persons 61 Persons 109.2 Persons 10
1980s 184.25 Persons 91 Persons 226 Persons 10
1990s 174.45 Persons 96 Persons 220.1 Persons 10
2000s 115.92 Persons 71.2 Persons 290.75 Persons 10
2010s 242.69 Persons 120.95 Persons 343.65 Persons 10
2020s 132.96 Persons 120.28 Persons 160.07 Persons 6

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 27 New Zealand 159.8 Persons compare
  2. 28 Costa Rica 158.25 Persons compare
  3. 29 Czechia 150.53 Persons compare
  4. 31 Norway 136.32 Persons compare
  5. 32 Israel 134.28 Persons compare
  6. 33 Bulgaria 106.85 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 48 places →

More work & labour data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed population — unemployment in Ireland?
Unemployed population — unemployment in Ireland was 137.15 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 343.65 Persons in 2012.
What is the lowest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 51 Persons in 1965.
How does Ireland rank for unemployed population — unemployment?
Ireland ranks 30th out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
Is unemployed population — unemployment rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 39.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployed population — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed population — Unemployment in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-population-unemployment/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed population — Unemployment
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
48 places, 2,160 data points, 1955–2025
Last refreshed

The infra-annual dataflow on the unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.