Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) by country
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.
Countries reporting
181
Highest
33.0%
Namibia
Lowest
0.1%
Qatar
Median
4.8%
Years covered
66
1960–2025
Data points
5,453
What the numbers show
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) is currently reported for 181 countries. The highest value is 33.0% in Namibia; the lowest is 0.1% in Qatar.
The median across all reporting countries is 4.8%, and the mean is 6.1%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 560.
Over the past decade 67 countries rose and 113 fell. The largest increase was in Cambodia (up 707.8%), and the largest decrease in Tajikistan (down 99.1%).
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namibia | 33.0% | 2023 | up 90.7% | rising |
| 2 | Eswatini | 31.8% | 2023 | up 51.4% | rising |
| 3 | South Africa | 30.4% | 2024 | up 31.4% | rising |
| 4 | Palestine | 28.5% | 2025 | up 41.0% | rising |
| 5 | Botswana | 22.5% | 2024 | up 26.2% | rising |
| 6 | French Polynesia | 21.1% | 2012 | up 98.5% | rising |
| 7 | Curacao | 17.6% | 2020 | up 109.7% | rising |
| 8 | Lesotho | 16.2% | 2024 | down 27.8% | falling |
| 9 | Puerto Rico | 15.0% | 2020 | down 19.8% | falling |
| 10 | Jordan | 14.7% | 2024 | up 45.5% | rising |
| 11 | Iraq | 14.3% | 2021 | up 98.7% | rising |
| 12 | Malawi | 12.9% | 2024 | up 215.6% | volatile |
| 13 | Tunisia | 12.8% | 2023 | down 3.3% | falling |
| 14 | Yemen | 12.3% | 2014 | down 5.1% | volatile |
| 15 | North Macedonia | 12.2% | 2025 | down 54.9% | rising |
| 16 | Dominica | 11.9% | 2001 | up 86.2% | rising |
| 17 | Guam | 11.9% | 2012 | down 7.2% | rising |
| 18 | Haiti | 11.5% | 2012 | down 51.7% | falling |
| 19 | Montenegro | 10.9% | 2024 | down 39.2% | falling |
| 20 | Cape Verde | 10.7% | 2019 | down 19.8% | falling |
| 21 | Syria | 10.4% | 2011 | up 26.6% | rising |
| 22 | Morocco | 10.2% | 2022 | up 18.1% | falling |
| 23 | Angola | 10.2% | 2025 | up 2.1% | flat |
| 24 | Finland | 10.1% | 2025 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 25 | Bermuda | 10.0% | 2014 | up 219.9% | rising |
| 26 | Nepal | 9.8% | 2017 | up 477.5% | volatile |
| 27 | Georgia | 9.7% | 2025 | down 48.3% | falling |
| 28 | Northern Mariana Islands | 9.7% | 2010 | up 120.4% | falling |
| 29 | New Caledonia | 9.6% | 2023 | down 30.0% | falling |
| 30 | Ukraine | 9.5% | 2021 | up 8.6% | flat |
| 31 | Algeria | 9.4% | 2017 | down 26.8% | volatile |
| 32 | Spain | 9.3% | 2025 | down 55.4% | rising |
| 33 | Zimbabwe | 9.0% | 2025 | up 105.5% | rising |
| 34 | Greenland | 8.9% | 2015 | down 14.6% | falling |
| 35 | Marshall Islands | 8.9% | 2021 | up 82.0% | volatile |
| 36 | Sweden | 8.8% | 2025 | up 16.0% | volatile |
| 37 | Aruba | 8.6% | 2011 | up 32.3% | rising |
| 38 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8.5% | 2025 | down 67.1% | falling |
| 39 | Chile | 8.4% | 2025 | up 37.3% | falling |
| 40 | Estonia | 8.3% | 2025 | up 27.7% | falling |
| 41 | Lithuania | 7.9% | 2025 | down 21.8% | falling |
| 42 | Bahamas | 7.9% | 2024 | down 39.4% | flat |
| 43 | Albania | 7.9% | 2024 | down 60.5% | falling |
| 44 | France | 7.8% | 2025 | down 27.9% | rising |
| 45 | Latvia | 7.7% | 2025 | down 30.8% | falling |
| 46 | Kosovo | 7.7% | 2024 | down 76.8% | falling |
| 46 | Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) | 7.7% | 2024 | down 76.8% | falling |
| 48 | Venezuela | 7.3% | 2020 | up 0.9% | falling |
| 49 | Armenia | 7.2% | 2023 | down 50.4% | volatile |
| 50 | Saint Lucia | 7.2% | 2025 | down 52.0% | falling |
| 51 | Canada | 7.1% | 2025 | down 5.5% | falling |
| 52 | Serbia | 7.1% | 2025 | down 58.0% | falling |
| 53 | Greece | 7.0% | 2025 | down 67.9% | volatile |
| 54 | Türkiye | 6.8% | 2025 | down 26.1% | rising |
| 55 | Colombia | 6.8% | 2025 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 56 | Panama | 6.7% | 2025 | up 79.0% | falling |
| 57 | Argentina | 6.7% | 2025 | up 3.8% | flat |
| 58 | Tuvalu | 6.7% | 2022 | up 16.7% | volatile |
| 59 | Belgium | 6.7% | 2025 | down 26.7% | rising |
| 60 | Barbados | 6.7% | 2024 | down 43.6% | falling |
| 61 | Denmark | 6.3% | 2025 | up 4.2% | falling |
| 62 | Iran | 6.2% | 2024 | down 30.0% | falling |
| 63 | Liberia | 6.2% | 2017 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 64 | Luxembourg | 6.2% | 2025 | down 4.4% | volatile |
| 65 | Romania | 6.2% | 2025 | down 18.0% | falling |
| 66 | Burkina Faso | 6.1% | 2025 | up 57.9% | rising |
| 67 | Austria | 6.1% | 2025 | down 1.7% | rising |
| 68 | Uruguay | 6.0% | 2025 | down 5.0% | falling |
| 69 | Sudan | 6.0% | 2022 | down 51.7% | falling |
| 70 | Pakistan | 5.9% | 2025 | up 112.7% | falling |
| 71 | Mongolia | 5.9% | 2025 | up 9.7% | rising |
| 72 | Belize | 5.9% | 2019 | up 0.3% | falling |
| 73 | Costa Rica | 5.8% | 2025 | down 18.7% | rising |
| 74 | Afghanistan | 5.7% | 2021 | up 321.2% | volatile |
| 75 | Suriname | 5.7% | 2016 | down 19.2% | falling |
| 76 | Italy | 5.7% | 2025 | down 50.0% | rising |
| 77 | Portugal | 5.5% | 2025 | down 54.5% | rising |
| 78 | Croatia | 5.4% | 2025 | down 65.3% | falling |
| 79 | United Kingdom | 5.2% | 2025 | down 8.6% | falling |
| 80 | Nicaragua | 5.2% | 2018 | down 8.8% | flat |
| 81 | Zambia | 5.2% | 2024 | down 16.5% | volatile |
| 82 | Slovak Republic | 5.1% | 2025 | down 50.7% | falling |
| 83 | New Zealand | 5.1% | 2025 | up 2.5% | falling |
| 84 | Maldives | 5.0% | 2019 | down 51.6% | volatile |
| 85 | Rwanda | 5.0% | 2025 | up 362.3% | volatile |
| 86 | Nauru | 4.9% | 2021 | down 77.0% | volatile |
| 87 | Guyana | 4.9% | 2024 | down 59.5% | rising |
| 88 | Switzerland | 4.8% | 2025 | up 2.7% | volatile |
| 89 | Norway | 4.8% | 2025 | up 5.5% | rising |
| 90 | Azerbaijan | 4.8% | 2022 | up 11.1% | volatile |
| 91 | Brazil | 4.8% | 2025 | down 33.6% | rising |
| 92 | Antigua and Barbuda | 4.8% | 2023 | down 36.6% | falling |
| 93 | Ireland | 4.7% | 2025 | down 56.3% | falling |
| 94 | India | 4.6% | 2025 | up 49.7% | rising |
| 95 | Hungary | 4.5% | 2025 | down 31.5% | volatile |
| 96 | Fiji | 4.5% | 2024 | down 9.1% | flat |
| 97 | Iceland | 4.4% | 2025 | up 13.6% | rising |
| 98 | Hong Kong | 4.4% | 2025 | up 27.6% | rising |
| 99 | Sao Tome and Principe | 4.4% | 2017 | down 60.4% | volatile |
| 100 | United States | 4.4% | 2025 | down 18.6% | rising |
| 101 | Australia | 4.3% | 2025 | down 28.2% | falling |
| 102 | Kazakhstan | 4.3% | 2022 | up 4.1% | falling |
| 103 | Brunei | 4.2% | 2025 | down 31.0% | rising |
| 104 | Germany | 4.1% | 2025 | down 16.9% | falling |
| 105 | Grenada | 4.1% | 2023 | down 67.3% | falling |
| 106 | Mauritius | 4.1% | 2024 | down 23.8% | falling |
| 107 | Egypt | 4.0% | 2024 | down 58.5% | rising |
| 108 | Cyprus | 4.0% | 2025 | down 73.8% | volatile |
| 109 | Senegal | 3.9% | 2025 | down 38.3% | falling |
| 110 | Uzbekistan | 3.9% | 2020 | down 14.3% | volatile |
| 111 | Trinidad and Tobago | 3.9% | 2024 | up 79.7% | volatile |
| 112 | Kenya | 3.8% | 2021 | down 61.3% | falling |
| 113 | Paraguay | 3.8% | 2025 | down 11.0% | falling |
| 114 | Malaysia | 3.8% | 2022 | up 28.2% | falling |
| 115 | Peru | 3.8% | 2025 | up 17.8% | falling |
| 116 | Bangladesh | 3.7% | 2024 | up 18.5% | rising |
| 117 | Netherlands | 3.7% | 2025 | down 43.0% | falling |
| 118 | Bulgaria | 3.7% | 2025 | down 62.4% | falling |
| 119 | Honduras | 3.6% | 2025 | down 17.8% | falling |
| 120 | Indonesia | 3.6% | 2023 | down 17.8% | rising |
| 121 | Slovenia | 3.6% | 2025 | down 55.7% | falling |
| 122 | Samoa | 3.5% | 2022 | down 55.5% | volatile |
| 123 | Faroe Islands | 3.4% | 2013 | up 18.3% | rising |
| 124 | Cayman Islands | 3.3% | 2015 | up 10.6% | rising |
| 125 | Singapore | 3.2% | 2025 | down 11.6% | rising |
| 126 | Ghana | 3.2% | 2025 | down 54.4% | volatile |
| 127 | Israel | 3.1% | 2025 | down 38.8% | rising |
| 128 | Malta | 3.1% | 2025 | down 43.1% | falling |
| 129 | Kyrgyzstan | 3.0% | 2023 | down 37.8% | falling |
| 130 | Dominican Republic | 3.0% | 2025 | down 44.2% | falling |
| 131 | Isle of Man | 3.0% | 2016 | up 8.1% | volatile |
| 132 | Mali | 3.0% | 2024 | down 53.3% | falling |
| 133 | Sri Lanka | 3.0% | 2024 | down 1.9% | falling |
| 134 | Madagascar | 2.9% | 2022 | up 415.4% | volatile |
| 135 | Ethiopia | 2.9% | 2021 | up 77.6% | rising |
| 136 | San Marino | 2.9% | 2022 | up 37.0% | rising |
| 137 | Macao | 2.9% | 2020 | down 16.5% | volatile |
| 138 | Belarus | 2.9% | 2025 | up 146.4% | volatile |
| 139 | Uganda | 2.9% | 2021 | up 293.5% | rising |
| 140 | Seychelles | 2.8% | 2025 | down 19.3% | falling |
| 141 | Korea | 2.8% | 2025 | down 21.3% | falling |
| 142 | Poland | 2.8% | 2025 | down 61.5% | volatile |
| 143 | Liechtenstein | 2.7% | 2017 | up 62.0% | rising |
| 144 | Japan | 2.7% | 2025 | down 25.1% | rising |
| 145 | Cambodia | 2.7% | 2025 | up 707.8% | volatile |
| 146 | El Salvador | 2.7% | 2025 | down 39.1% | falling |
| 147 | Nigeria | 2.7% | 2024 | down 30.8% | rising |
| 148 | Ecuador | 2.6% | 2025 | down 7.4% | falling |
| 149 | Bhutan | 2.6% | 2025 | up 37.9% | rising |
| 150 | Czechia | 2.5% | 2025 | down 40.5% | falling |
| 151 | Mexico | 2.5% | 2025 | down 41.2% | falling |
| 152 | Cameroon | 2.5% | 2021 | down 27.0% | volatile |
| 153 | Jamaica | 2.2% | 2023 | down 69.7% | falling |
| 154 | Philippines | 2.2% | 2024 | down 38.0% | volatile |
| 155 | Palau | 2.2% | 2023 | up 106.3% | volatile |
| 156 | Cote d'Ivoire | 2.1% | 2022 | down 70.6% | volatile |
| 157 | Saudi Arabia | 2.1% | 2025 | down 13.2% | falling |
| 158 | Kiribati | 2.1% | 2023 | down 82.7% | volatile |
| 159 | Bolivia | 2.0% | 2025 | down 22.6% | volatile |
| 160 | Russia | 2.0% | 2025 | down 65.7% | falling |
| 161 | Benin | 1.9% | 2022 | down 21.7% | volatile |
| 162 | Togo | 1.8% | 2022 | down 21.8% | volatile |
| 163 | Guatemala | 1.7% | 2025 | down 14.4% | falling |
| 164 | Vietnam | 1.6% | 2024 | up 16.4% | falling |
| 165 | Oman | 1.6% | 2022 | down 52.6% | volatile |
| 166 | Cuba | 1.6% | 2018 | up 18.7% | falling |
| 167 | Tanzania | 1.6% | 2025 | down 0.8% | falling |
| 168 | East Timor | 1.5% | 2022 | down 62.9% | falling |
| 169 | Laos | 1.5% | 2022 | up 98.4% | rising |
| 170 | Moldova | 1.4% | 2025 | down 39.2% | volatile |
| 171 | Vanuatu | 1.3% | 2025 | down 68.6% | falling |
| 172 | United Arab Emirates | 1.2% | 2025 | up 14.7% | rising |
| 173 | Tonga | 1.1% | 2023 | up 18.1% | volatile |
| 174 | Burundi | 1.1% | 2020 | down 49.5% | volatile |
| 175 | Myanmar | 1.0% | 2020 | down 72.8% | volatile |
| 176 | Kuwait | 0.9% | 2016 | up 18.0% | volatile |
| 177 | Thailand | 0.6% | 2025 | down 5.9% | volatile |
| 178 | Niger | 0.5% | 2022 | down 68.9% | volatile |
| 179 | Bahrain | 0.2% | 2015 | — | volatile |
| 180 | Tajikistan | 0.1% | 2016 | down 99.1% | volatile |
| 181 | Qatar | 0.1% | 2024 | down 15.7% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 9.5%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 7.2%
- Arab World 7.1%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 7.1%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 6.6%
- Euro area 6.1%
- European Union 5.8%
- IBRD only 5.4%
- Caribbean Small States 5.3%
- Europe & Central Asia 5.2%
- OECD members 4.8%
- Post-demographic dividend 4.8%
- Early-demographic dividend 4.7%
- North America 4.7%
- South Asia 4.6%
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 4.6%
- IDA blend 4.5%
- High income 4.4%
- Latin America & Caribbean 4.4%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 4.4%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 4.2%
- Central Europe and the Baltics 4.2%
- Lower middle income 4.1%
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 4.1%
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.