Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 5.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Europe & Central Asia, 1992–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Europe & Central Asia is 5.2%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and down 38.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 9.6% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 5.2%, in 2024.
Europe & Central Asia ranks 10th of 24 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 7.1% | — |
| 1993 | 8.5% | +19.2% |
| 1994 | 9.2% | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 8.8% | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 9.2% | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 9.4% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 9.5% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 9.6% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 8.6% | -10.5% |
| 2001 | 8.4% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 8.5% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 8.6% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 8.6% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 8.3% | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 7.1% | -9.9% |
| 2008 | 7.1% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 9.4% | +32.8% |
| 2010 | 9.3% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 8.9% | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 9.4% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 9.1% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 8.5% | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 8.1% | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 7.4% | -8.2% |
| 2018 | 6.9% | -7.7% |
| 2019 | 6.6% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 7.0% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 6.8% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 5.6% | -17.1% |
| 2023 | 5.3% | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 5.2% | -3.4% |
| 2025 | 5.2% | +0.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Europe & Central Asia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +32.8% | 7.1% | 9.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% | 8 |
| 2000s | 8.2% | 7.1% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.3% | 6.6% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.9% | 5.2% | 7.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 35.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 44.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 72.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Europe & Central Asia?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Europe & Central Asia was 5.2% 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 Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2% in 2024.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 10th out of 24 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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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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.