Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Italy
Italy: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 5.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
5.7%
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
78th
of 181 countries
All-time high
11.9%
in 2014
All-time low
3.6%
in 1974
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Italy, 1970–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Italy is 5.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Italy peaked at 11.9% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 1974.
Italy ranks 78th of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.7% | — |
| 1971 | 3.8% | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 4.6% | +20.8% |
| 1973 | 4.2% | -8.3% |
| 1974 | 3.6% | -13.9% |
| 1975 | 3.8% | +5.0% |
| 1976 | 4.2% | +11.5% |
| 1977 | 4.6% | +8.3% |
| 1978 | 4.7% | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 4.9% | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 4.8% | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 5.3% | +12.6% |
| 1982 | 6.0% | +13.0% |
| 1983 | 5.6% | -7.5% |
| 1984 | 6.4% | +13.6% |
| 1985 | 6.3% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 7.0% | +11.6% |
| 1987 | 7.5% | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 7.3% | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 7.3% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 6.4% | -13.1% |
| 1991 | 6.8% | +6.3% |
| 1992 | 6.7% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 7.6% | +13.2% |
| 1994 | 8.6% | +13.7% |
| 1995 | 9.1% | +4.8% |
| 1996 | 9.3% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 9.4% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 9.4% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 8.8% | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 8.3% | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 7.4% | -11.0% |
| 2002 | 7.0% | -5.2% |
| 2003 | 6.9% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 6.3% | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 6.2% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 5.4% | -12.1% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | -10.0% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | +12.6% |
| 2009 | 6.7% | +22.4% |
| 2010 | 7.5% | +11.5% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 9.8% | +30.4% |
| 2013 | 11.5% | +17.1% |
| 2014 | 11.9% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 11.3% | -4.6% |
| 2016 | 10.9% | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 10.3% | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 9.7% | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 9.0% | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | -6.7% |
| 2021 | 8.7% | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 7.1% | -17.9% |
| 2023 | 6.8% | -4.7% |
| 2024 | 5.9% | -13.4% |
| 2025 | 5.7% | -2.9% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 5.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 1.2× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Italy's 5.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.4%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.4% | 4.8% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.2% | 6.4% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 4.9% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.9% | 7.5% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.1% | 5.7% | 8.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More work & labour data for Italy
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6794 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.662 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 44,671 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 10,422 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 17,512 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 17,865 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 35,377 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Italy?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Italy was 5.7% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 11.9% in 2014.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 1974.
- How does Italy rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Italy ranks 78th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy 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.