Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 2.96 in 2027. ▬ Flat

Latest (2027)
2.96
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
149th
of 188 countries
All-time high
6.96
in 1998
All-time low
2.05
in 1996
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Republic of Korea, 1991–2027

2345671991200920271991: 2.41992: 2.51993: 2.91994: 2.51995: 2.11996: 21997: 2.61998: 71999: 6.32000: 4.12001: 3.72002: 32003: 3.32004: 3.42005: 3.52006: 3.32007: 32008: 32009: 3.42010: 3.32011: 32012: 2.82013: 3.12014: 3.12015: 3.52016: 3.62017: 3.72018: 3.82019: 3.72020: 3.92021: 3.62022: 2.92023: 2.72024: 2.82025: 2.72026: 2.82027: 3

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Republic of Korea recorded 2.96 for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in 2027.

That represents a change of up 5.4% on the previous year and down 19.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Republic of Korea peaked at 6.96 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 2.05, in 1996.

That places Republic of Korea 149th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Republic of Korea, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Republic of Korea, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 2.41
1992 2.51 +4.4%
1993 2.88 +14.5%
1994 2.48 -14.0%
1995 2.06 -16.7%
1996 2.05 -0.7%
1997 2.61 +27.3%
1998 6.96 +167.0%
1999 6.34 -8.9%
2000 4.06 -35.9%
2001 3.7 -9.0%
2002 3.05 -17.7%
2003 3.35 +9.9%
2004 3.42 +2.2%
2005 3.48 +1.8%
2006 3.25 -6.5%
2007 3.01 -7.4%
2008 2.96 -1.8%
2009 3.36 +13.7%
2010 3.32 -1.2%
2011 2.99 -10.0%
2012 2.81 -6.0%
2013 3.07 +9.1%
2014 3.08 +0.5%
2015 3.55 +15.1%
2016 3.65 +2.9%
2017 3.65 +0.1%
2018 3.82 +4.7%
2019 3.75 -2.0%
2020 3.93 +4.9%
2021 3.64 -7.4%
2022 2.86 -21.5%
2023 2.67 -6.4%
2024 2.78 +4.1%
2025 2.68 -3.6%
2026 2.81 +4.5%
2027 2.96 +5.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 3.37 2.05 6.96 9
2000s 3.36 2.96 4.06 10
2010s 3.37 2.81 3.82 10
2020s 3.04 2.67 3.93 8

Countries ranked near Republic of Korea

  1. 146 Madagascar 3.02 compare
  2. 147 Ecuador 3 compare
  3. 148 Indonesia 2.96 compare
  4. 150 Slovenia 2.95 compare
  5. 151 Saudi Arabia 2.91 compare
  6. 152 Liberia 2.83 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Republic of Korea

All data for Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Republic of Korea?
Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Republic of Korea was 2.96 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 6.96 in 1998.
What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 2.05 in 1996.
How does Republic of Korea rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
Republic of Korea ranks 149th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Republic of Korea 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.

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Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rate-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,188 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

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.