Unemployment in Estonia
Estonia: Unemployment was 50.49 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment in Estonia, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment in Estonia stood at 50.49.
That represents a change of up 23.4% on the previous year and up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment in Estonia peaked at 115.44 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 34.3, in 2019.
That places Estonia 52nd out of 58 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Unemployment in Estonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 74.61 | — |
| 2005 | 61.84 | -17.1% |
| 2006 | 48.06 | -22.3% |
| 2007 | 35.16 | -26.8% |
| 2008 | 34.91 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 83.46 | +139.1% |
| 2010 | 115.44 | +38.3% |
| 2011 | 82.26 | -28.7% |
| 2012 | 67.2 | -18.3% |
| 2013 | 64.85 | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 50.67 | -21.9% |
| 2015 | 42.3 | -16.5% |
| 2016 | 45.6 | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 38.97 | -14.5% |
| 2018 | 37.88 | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 34.3 | -9.5% |
| 2020 | 42.19 | +23.0% |
| 2021 | 51.82 | +22.8% |
| 2022 | 35.34 | -31.8% |
| 2023 | 40.57 | +14.8% |
| 2024 | 40.91 | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 50.49 | +23.4% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 50.49 is below the median for high income countries, which is 266.61, 19% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 50.49 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 266.61, 19% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56.34 | 34.91 | 83.46 | 6 |
| 2010s | 57.95 | 34.3 | 115.44 | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.55 | 35.34 | 51.82 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More work & labour data for Estonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1039 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 885.23 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 259.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 417.66 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 407.84 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 825.5 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment in Estonia?
- Unemployment in Estonia was 50.49 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment recorded in Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 115.44 in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.3 in 2019.
- How does Estonia rank for unemployment?
- Estonia ranks 52nd out of 58 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Estonia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.