Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Western Asia
Western Asia: Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS was 8.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
8.8%
Change on year
down 1.5%
Rank
4th
of 39 groups
All-time high
11.4%
in 2020
All-time low
7.9%
in 2000
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Western Asia, 2000–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Western Asia stood at 8.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Western Asia peaked at 11.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2000.
Western Asia ranks 4th of 39 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Western Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.9% | — |
| 2001 | 8.8% | +12.2% |
| 2002 | 9.7% | +9.4% |
| 2003 | 9.6% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 9.5% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 9.3% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 8.9% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 8.8% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 9.2% | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 10.2% | +10.1% |
| 2010 | 9.4% | -7.4% |
| 2011 | 8.6% | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 8.7% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 8.9% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 9.0% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 9.2% | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 9.4% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 9.8% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 9.8% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 10.6% | +8.8% |
| 2020 | 11.4% | +7.4% |
| 2021 | 10.8% | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 9.8% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 9.0% | -7.4% |
| 2024 | 8.9% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 8.8% | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.2% | 7.9% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.3% | 8.6% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8% | 8.8% | 11.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Asia
- 1 South Africa 32.3% compare
- 2 State of Palestine 31.4% compare
- 3 Botswana 24.4% compare
- 4 Guadeloupe 23.8% compare
- 5 French Guiana 23.2% compare
- 6 Réunion 22.4% compare
- 6 Réunion 22.4% compare
More work & labour data for Western Asia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 271,171 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1407 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1411 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1403 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.7199 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.16 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 73,641 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 322,919 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 524,613 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 253,442 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Western Asia?
- Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Western Asia was 8.8% 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 Western Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Western Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2000.
- How does Western Asia rank for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls?
- Western Asia ranks 4th out of 39 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls rising or falling in Western Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Western Asia 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.
Download this data
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