Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) was 139.21 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Hong Kong, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in Hong Kong is 139.21, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 22.4% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in Hong Kong peaked at 227.56 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 112.12, in 2018.
Hong Kong ranks 47th of 72 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 127.58 | — |
| 2015 | 129.37 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 132.97 | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 123.6 | -7.0% |
| 2018 | 112.12 | -9.3% |
| 2019 | 116.32 | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 227.56 | +95.6% |
| 2021 | 200.26 | -12.0% |
| 2022 | 163.05 | -18.6% |
| 2023 | 112.73 | -30.9% |
| 2024 | 113.77 | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 139.21 | +22.4% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 139.21 is below the median for high income countries, which is 169.05, 82% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 139.21 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 159.8, 87% of the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 123.66 | 112.12 | 132.97 | 6 |
| 2020s | 159.43 | 112.73 | 227.56 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More work & labour data for Hong Kong
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 2,981 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 55.13 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,663 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 2.78 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.06 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 149,185 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,833 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 53.6 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.56 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in Hong Kong?
- Unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in Hong Kong was 139.21 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 227.56 in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 112.12 in 2018.
- How does Hong Kong rank for unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19)?
- Hong Kong ranks 47th out of 72 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Hong Kong data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. 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 Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.