Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA
MENA: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 9.31 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA, 1991–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2027, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA stood at 9.31.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA peaked at 12.75 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 9.16, in 2023.
MENA ranks 11th of 87 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in MENA, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.62 | — |
| 1992 | 11.74 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 12.36 | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 12.43 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 12.75 | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 11.73 | -8.0% |
| 1997 | 11.45 | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 11.54 | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 11.85 | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 12.35 | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 12.38 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 12.47 | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 12.17 | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 11.08 | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 11.23 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 10.59 | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 10.12 | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 9.87 | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 9.8 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 10.15 | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 10.84 | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 11.13 | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 10.81 | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 10.82 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 11.02 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 11.04 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 11.19 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 10.78 | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 10.13 | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 10.85 | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 10.38 | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 9.42 | -9.2% |
| 2023 | 9.16 | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 9.5 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | 9.45 | -0.5% |
| 2026 | 9.39 | -0.6% |
| 2027 | 9.31 | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.94 | 11.45 | 12.75 | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.21 | 9.8 | 12.47 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.79 | 10.13 | 11.19 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.68 | 9.16 | 10.85 | 8 |
Countries ranked near MENA
More work & labour data for MENA
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 44.52 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 230,676 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 185,145 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.49 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 2.46 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 63,778 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 40.38 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 23,896 (2027)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates) 161,568 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA?
- Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in MENA was 9.31 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in MENA?
- The highest recorded value was 12.75 in 1995.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in MENA?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.16 in 2023.
- How does MENA rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- MENA ranks 11th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
- Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in MENA?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this MENA 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.