Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uruguay

Uruguay: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 7.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
7.2%
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
52nd
of 181 countries
All-time high
13.3%
in 2003
All-time low
4.8%
in 2011
Years of data
45
1970–2024

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uruguay, 1970–2024

0510151970199720241970: 6.51971: 7.11972: 7.71973: 7.81974: 71981: 5.11982: 9.11984: 10.71986: 8.51987: 6.31988: 6.21989: 6.11990: 6.91991: 7.21992: 6.81993: 6.51994: 7.11995: 81998: 7.11999: 82000: 10.12001: 11.22002: 13.22003: 13.32004: 10.12005: 9.42006: 8.22007: 6.72008: 5.62009: 5.52010: 5.32011: 4.82012: 4.92013: 52014: 5.12015: 6.42016: 6.52017: 6.62018: 6.92019: 7.32020: 8.72021: 7.92022: 6.92023: 7.42024: 7.2

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Uruguay recorded 7.2% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2024.

That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and up 42.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uruguay peaked at 13.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2011.

That places Uruguay 52nd out of 181 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uruguay, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Uruguay, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 6.5%
1971 7.1% +9.2%
1972 7.7% +8.5%
1973 7.8% +1.3%
1974 7.0% -10.3%
1981 5.1% -27.1%
1982 9.1% +78.4%
1984 10.7% +17.2%
1986 8.5% -20.4%
1987 6.3% -25.7%
1988 6.2% -1.4%
1989 6.1% -1.8%
1990 6.9% +12.4%
1991 7.2% +4.4%
1992 6.8% -4.6%
1993 6.5% -5.3%
1994 7.1% +9.2%
1995 8.0% +13.2%
1998 7.1% -11.0%
1999 8.0% +12.6%
2000 10.1% +26.3%
2001 11.2% +10.9%
2002 13.2% +17.5%
2003 13.3% +0.8%
2004 10.1% -24.1%
2005 9.4% -7.4%
2006 8.2% -12.9%
2007 6.7% -17.7%
2008 5.6% -16.3%
2009 5.5% -2.0%
2010 5.3% -4.3%
2011 4.8% -8.2%
2012 4.9% +1.4%
2013 5.0% +1.8%
2014 5.1% +1.2%
2015 6.4% +25.8%
2016 6.5% +2.2%
2017 6.6% +1.0%
2018 6.9% +4.7%
2019 7.3% +6.3%
2020 8.7% +18.7%
2021 7.9% -8.6%
2022 6.9% -13.1%
2023 7.4% +8.0%
2024 7.2% -3.1%

Uruguay compared with similar countries

  • Uruguay's 7.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 1.5× the median. (75 countries reporting)
  • Uruguay's 7.2% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.8%, 1.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 7.2% 6.5% 7.8% 5
1980s 7.4% 5.1% 10.7% 7
1990s 7.2% 6.5% 8.0% 8
2000s 9.3% 5.5% 13.3% 10
2010s 5.9% 4.8% 7.3% 10
2020s 7.6% 6.9% 8.7% 5

Countries ranked near Uruguay

  1. 49 Antigua and Barbuda 7.6% compare
  2. 50 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 7.3% compare
  3. 51 Armenia 7.2% compare
  4. 53 Saint Lucia 7.2% compare
  5. 54 Canada 7.1% compare
  6. 55 Serbia 7.1% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More work & labour data for Uruguay

All data for Uruguay →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uruguay?
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uruguay was 7.2% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Uruguay?
The highest recorded value was 13.3% in 2003.
What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Uruguay?
The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2011.
How does Uruguay rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
Uruguay ranks 52nd out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Uruguay?
Over the last ten years it is up 42.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Uruguay 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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Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Uruguay. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-national-estimate/uruguay/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
205 places, 5,415 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.