Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Colombia
Colombia: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 6.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Colombia, 1975–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Colombia recorded 6.8% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 14.9% on the previous year and up 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Colombia peaked at 17.2% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1980.
That places Colombia 58th out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Colombia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 9.1% | — |
| 1976 | 9.7% | +5.8% |
| 1977 | 7.8% | -19.4% |
| 1978 | 6.9% | -12.0% |
| 1979 | 7.2% | +5.5% |
| 1980 | 2.6% | -63.9% |
| 1983 | 9.1% | +248.7% |
| 1984 | 10.8% | +18.8% |
| 1985 | 10.7% | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 10.1% | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 8.3% | -17.6% |
| 1988 | 7.6% | -9.0% |
| 1989 | 6.7% | -11.5% |
| 1990 | 8.1% | +20.4% |
| 1991 | 7.6% | -6.0% |
| 1992 | 6.7% | -11.8% |
| 1993 | 5.3% | -20.8% |
| 1994 | 4.9% | -7.5% |
| 1995 | 6.8% | +37.8% |
| 1996 | 9.4% | +39.9% |
| 1997 | 9.8% | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 12.5% | +27.5% |
| 1999 | 17.2% | +37.6% |
| 2000 | 16.9% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 12.0% | -29.0% |
| 2002 | 12.0% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 10.5% | -12.2% |
| 2004 | 10.7% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 8.7% | -18.4% |
| 2007 | 8.3% | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 8.5% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 9.0% | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 8.8% | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 8.1% | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 7.3% | -6.6% |
| 2014 | 7.0% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 6.7% | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 7.0% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 7.1% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 8.2% | +10.7% |
| 2020 | 12.8% | +55.8% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | -14.8% |
| 2022 | 8.6% | -20.9% |
| 2023 | 7.9% | -7.9% |
| 2024 | 8.0% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 6.8% | -14.9% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 6.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.4%, 1.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 6.8% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.8%, 1.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Colombia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +248.7% | 2.6% | 9.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.1% | 6.9% | 9.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 8.2% | 2.6% | 10.8% | 8 |
| 1990s | 8.8% | 4.9% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.8% | 8.3% | 16.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 7.5% | 6.7% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.2% | 6.8% | 12.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More work & labour data for Colombia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6981 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7453 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1417 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 48,629 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 6,104 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 23,624 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 23,456 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 47,081 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Colombia?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Colombia was 6.8% 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 17.2% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1980.
- How does Colombia rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Colombia ranks 58th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Colombia 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.