Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in South America

South America: Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS was 6.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
6.2%
Change on year
down 8.9%
Rank
9th
of 39 groups
All-time high
12.2%
in 2020
All-time low
6.2%
in 2025
Years of data
26
2000–2025

Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in South America, 2000–2025

02.557.51012.52000201220252000: 11.82001: 11.22002: 11.52003: 11.22004: 10.42005: 9.72006: 8.92007: 8.42008: 7.82009: 8.72010: 7.82011: 7.12012: 6.82013: 6.72014: 6.52015: 7.42016: 9.12017: 9.72018: 9.62019: 9.62020: 12.22021: 10.92022: 82023: 7.32024: 6.82025: 6.2

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

South America recorded 6.2% for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.

That represents a change of down 8.9% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in South America peaked at 12.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 2025.

That places South America 9th out of 39 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in South America, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%) in South America, 2000 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2000 11.8%
2001 11.2% -5.2%
2002 11.5% +3.3%
2003 11.2% -2.9%
2004 10.4% -7.4%
2005 9.7% -6.2%
2006 8.9% -8.5%
2007 8.4% -6.0%
2008 7.8% -7.2%
2009 8.7% +11.5%
2010 7.8% -9.6%
2011 7.1% -8.7%
2012 6.8% -4.1%
2013 6.7% -1.6%
2014 6.5% -3.6%
2015 7.4% +13.5%
2016 9.1% +22.6%
2017 9.7% +6.9%
2018 9.6% -1.0%
2019 9.6% +0.1%
2020 12.2% +27.2%
2021 10.9% -10.4%
2022 8.0% -26.4%
2023 7.3% -9.6%
2024 6.8% -6.2%
2025 6.2% -8.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 9.9% 7.8% 11.8% 10
2010s 8.0% 6.5% 9.7% 10
2020s 8.6% 6.2% 12.2% 6

Countries ranked near South America

  1. 6 Réunion 22.4% compare
  2. 6 Réunion 22.4% compare
  3. 8 Namibia 19.9% compare
  4. 9 Curaçao 19.1% compare
  5. 9 Curaçao 19.1% compare
  6. 11 Martinique 17.6% compare
  7. 12 Jordan 16.6% compare

See the full ranking of 228 places →

More work & labour data for South America

All data for South America →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in South America?
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in South America was 6.2% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in South America?
The highest recorded value was 12.2% in 2020.
What is the lowest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in South America?
The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 2025.
How does South America rank for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls?
South America ranks 9th out of 39 groups with data for 2025.
Is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls rising or falling in South America?
Over the last ten years it is down 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South America data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in South America. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rate-by-sex-and-age-13th-icls-percent/south-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
228 places, 4,321 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed