Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Bolivia
Bolivia: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) was 2.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Bolivia, 1981–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Bolivia stood at 2.0%.
That represents a change of down 12.7% on the previous year and down 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Bolivia peaked at 22.6% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 2014.
That places Bolivia 159th out of 181 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.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Bolivia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 7.6% | — |
| 1982 | 8.7% | +13.5% |
| 1985 | 21.8% | +151.6% |
| 1986 | 22.2% | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 22.6% | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 20.0% | -11.7% |
| 1989 | 10.2% | -48.8% |
| 1990 | 6.9% | -32.6% |
| 1991 | 5.7% | -17.4% |
| 1992 | 5.5% | -3.9% |
| 1993 | 6.5% | +19.4% |
| 1994 | 3.3% | -50.1% |
| 1995 | 3.4% | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 3.6% | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 3.7% | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | -8.6% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | +16.5% |
| 2001 | 4.5% | +13.2% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | -17.5% |
| 2005 | 4.5% | +27.7% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 4.5% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 2.0% | -56.4% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | +24.2% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | -21.9% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | -22.4% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | +33.2% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | -31.3% |
| 2015 | 2.6% | +92.2% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | +18.0% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 3.4% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 6.4% | +87.2% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | -30.1% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -34.5% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -11.1% |
| 2024 | 2.3% | -11.1% |
| 2025 | 2.0% | -12.7% |
Bolivia compared with similar countries
- Bolivia's 2.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.8%, 53% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Bolivia's 2.0% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.2%, 39% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Bolivia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +151.6% | 8.7% | 21.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.2% | 7.6% | 22.6% | 7 |
| 1990s | 4.7% | 3.3% | 6.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.8% | 2.0% | 4.5% | 9 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 1.4% | 3.4% | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 2.0% | 6.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bolivia
More work & labour data for Bolivia
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 1,928 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 79.04 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 7,271 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 2.58 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.823 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 17,718 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 5,806 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 77 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.9059 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 2.01 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Bolivia?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Bolivia was 2.0% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Bolivia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.6% in 1987.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Bolivia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 2014.
- How does Bolivia rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Bolivia ranks 159th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Bolivia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bolivia 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.
Download this data
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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.