Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) was 2.78 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Hong Kong, 1991–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2027, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Hong Kong stood at 2.78.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Hong Kong peaked at 7.86 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 1.8, in 1991.
That places Hong Kong 155th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.8 | — |
| 1992 | 1.96 | +8.9% |
| 1993 | 1.96 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.9 | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 3.22 | +69.5% |
| 1996 | 2.83 | -12.1% |
| 1997 | 2.22 | -21.6% |
| 1998 | 4.58 | +106.3% |
| 1999 | 6.25 | +36.5% |
| 2000 | 4.92 | -21.3% |
| 2001 | 5.09 | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 7.28 | +43.0% |
| 2003 | 7.86 | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 6.74 | -14.2% |
| 2005 | 5.58 | -17.2% |
| 2006 | 4.77 | -14.5% |
| 2007 | 4.01 | -15.9% |
| 2008 | 3.56 | -11.2% |
| 2009 | 5.26 | +47.8% |
| 2010 | 4.33 | -17.7% |
| 2011 | 3.42 | -21.0% |
| 2012 | 3.29 | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 3.4 | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 3.3 | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 3.31 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 3.39 | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 3.12 | -7.9% |
| 2018 | 2.81 | -10.2% |
| 2019 | 2.92 | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 5.81 | +99.1% |
| 2021 | 5.17 | -10.9% |
| 2022 | 4.32 | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 2.95 | -31.7% |
| 2024 | 2.99 | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 2.8 | -6.3% |
| 2026 | 2.73 | -2.6% |
| 2027 | 2.78 | +1.8% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 2.78 is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.2, 53% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 2.78 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.96, 94% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Hong Kong changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +106.3% | 2.22 | 4.58 |
| 2020 | +99.1% | 2.92 | 5.81 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.97 | 1.8 | 6.25 | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.51 | 3.56 | 7.86 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.33 | 2.81 | 4.33 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.69 | 2.73 | 5.81 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More work & labour data for Hong Kong
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 2,981 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 55.13 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,663 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.06 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 149,185 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,833 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 53.6 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.56 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Hong Kong?
- Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Hong Kong was 2.78 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 7.86 in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8 in 1991.
- How does Hong Kong rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Hong Kong ranks 155th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Hong Kong data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). 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. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.