Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 5.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
5.7%
Change on year
down 45.2%
World rank
77th
of 181 countries
All-time high
10.5%
in 2020
All-time low
1.4%
in 2012
Years of data
6
2008–2021

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan, 2008–2021

2468102008201420212008: 2.72012: 1.42014: 7.22017: 10.42020: 10.52021: 5.7

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2021, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan stood at 5.7%.

The figure is down 45.2% on the previous year and up 321.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan peaked at 10.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2012.

Afghanistan ranks 77th of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Afghanistan, 2008 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2008 2.7%
2012 1.4% -48.7%
2014 7.2% +429.1%
2017 10.4% +44.1%
2020 10.5% +0.8%
2021 5.7% -45.2%

Afghanistan compared with similar countries

  • Afghanistan's 5.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.4%, 1.1× the median. (14 countries reporting)
  • Afghanistan's 5.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.8%, 98% of the median. (20 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.7% 2.7% 2.7% 1
2010s 6.3% 1.4% 10.4% 3
2020s 8.1% 5.7% 10.5% 2

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 74 Pakistan 5.9% compare
  2. 75 Belize 5.9% compare
  3. 76 Costa Rica 5.8% compare
  4. 78 Italy 5.7% compare
  5. 79 Suriname 5.7% compare
  6. 80 Portugal 5.6% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More work & labour data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan?
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan was 5.7% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 2020.
What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2012.
How does Afghanistan rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
Afghanistan ranks 77th out of 181 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 321.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-national-estimate/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
205 places, 5,415 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.