Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 12.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in North Macedonia, 1982–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
North Macedonia recorded 12.2% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of down 7.4% on the previous year and down 54.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in North Macedonia peaked at 37.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 12.2%, in 2025.
That places North Macedonia 16th out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 15.6% | — |
| 1983 | 14.8% | -5.1% |
| 1984 | 15.3% | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 15.8% | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 16.3% | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 16.5% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 16.9% | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 18.3% | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 19.4% | +6.0% |
| 1991 | 20.1% | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 22.1% | +10.0% |
| 1993 | 23.6% | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 25.8% | +9.3% |
| 1995 | 31.9% | +23.6% |
| 1996 | 29.0% | -9.2% |
| 1997 | 33.0% | +13.9% |
| 1998 | 32.5% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 31.9% | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 30.5% | -4.4% |
| 2001 | 29.5% | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 31.7% | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 37.0% | +16.6% |
| 2004 | 36.7% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 36.8% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 35.7% | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 34.8% | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 33.6% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 32.0% | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 32.9% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 31.9% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 31.5% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 29.0% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 27.8% | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 27.1% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 25.0% | -7.7% |
| 2017 | 23.2% | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 21.8% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 16.7% | -23.6% |
| 2020 | 16.9% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 16.6% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 15.8% | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 14.4% | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 13.2% | -8.4% |
| 2025 | 12.2% | -7.4% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 12.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.4%, 2.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 12.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.4%, 2.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.2% | 14.8% | 18.3% | 8 |
| 1990s | 26.9% | 19.4% | 33.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.8% | 29.5% | 37.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.7% | 16.7% | 32.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.9% | 12.2% | 16.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More work & labour data for North Macedonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.21 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1782 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,405 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 525.79 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 422.57 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 440.42 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 863 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in North Macedonia?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in North Macedonia was 12.2% 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 37.0% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.2% in 2025.
- How does North Macedonia rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- North Macedonia ranks 16th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.