Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income): Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 7.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), 1991–2021
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) is 7.2%, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) peaked at 8.9% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2008.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 2nd of 24 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.1% | — |
| 1996 | 6.6% | -18.9% |
| 1997 | 7.7% | +17.1% |
| 2001 | 8.9% | +14.6% |
| 2002 | 8.2% | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 8.9% | +9.4% |
| 2004 | 8.7% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 8.6% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 6.0% | -30.0% |
| 2007 | 5.8% | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 5.3% | -8.8% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 5.6% | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 6.1% | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 7.1% | +15.9% |
| 2013 | 6.6% | -6.9% |
| 2014 | 6.6% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 6.7% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 6.2% | -6.2% |
| 2020 | 6.8% | +10.4% |
| 2021 | 7.2% | +5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.5% | 6.6% | 8.1% | 3 |
| 2000s | 7.3% | 5.3% | 8.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 6.4% | 5.6% | 7.1% | 8 |
| 2020s | 7.0% | 6.8% | 7.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 17.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 71.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 44.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 13.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 32.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 47.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 25.1% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) was 7.2% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 8.9% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2008.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) ranks 2nd out of 24 groups with data for 2021.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 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.