Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Western Asia

Western Asia: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 8.17 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
8.17
Change on year
up 1.7%
Rank
14th
of 87 groups
All-time high
13.15
in 2009
All-time low
6.81
in 1991
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Western Asia, 1991–2027

0510151991200920271991: 6.81992: 7.41993: 8.11994: 8.21995: 7.61996: 7.41997: 7.81998: 8.21999: 8.92000: 82001: 9.22002: 10.62003: 10.62004: 10.72005: 10.42006: 102007: 9.82008: 10.62009: 13.22010: 11.62011: 9.92012: 9.42013: 9.72014: 9.72015: 9.92016: 10.22017: 10.12018: 102019: 11.92020: 11.72021: 10.82022: 9.42023: 8.62024: 8.22025: 82026: 82027: 8.2

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2027, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Western Asia stood at 8.17.

The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 18.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Western Asia peaked at 13.15 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 6.81, in 1991.

That places Western Asia 14th out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Western Asia, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Western Asia, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 6.81
1992 7.41 +8.8%
1993 8.08 +9.1%
1994 8.22 +1.7%
1995 7.56 -8.0%
1996 7.42 -1.9%
1997 7.83 +5.6%
1998 8.2 +4.7%
1999 8.91 +8.6%
2000 8.02 -10.0%
2001 9.22 +15.0%
2002 10.6 +15.0%
2003 10.6 +0.0%
2004 10.69 +0.9%
2005 10.41 -2.7%
2006 9.97 -4.2%
2007 9.83 -1.4%
2008 10.63 +8.2%
2009 13.15 +23.7%
2010 11.55 -12.2%
2011 9.91 -14.2%
2012 9.43 -4.8%
2013 9.7 +2.9%
2014 9.71 +0.1%
2015 9.9 +2.0%
2016 10.23 +3.4%
2017 10.06 -1.7%
2018 10 -0.6%
2019 11.91 +19.1%
2020 11.71 -1.7%
2021 10.76 -8.1%
2022 9.45 -12.2%
2023 8.59 -9.1%
2024 8.17 -4.9%
2025 7.97 -2.5%
2026 8.03 +0.8%
2027 8.17 +1.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 7.83 6.81 8.91 9
2000s 10.31 8.02 13.15 10
2010s 10.24 9.43 11.91 10
2020s 9.11 7.97 11.71 8

Countries ranked near Western Asia

  1. 11 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18.52 compare
  2. 12 Yemen 17.4 compare
  3. 13 Lesotho 16.52 compare
  4. 14 Jordan 16.24 compare
  5. 15 Iraq 15.77 compare
  6. 16 Tunisia 15.04 compare
  7. 17 Haiti 14.9 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Western Asia

All data for Western Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Western Asia?
Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Western Asia was 8.17 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Western Asia?
The highest recorded value was 13.15 in 2009.
What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Western Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 6.81 in 1991.
How does Western Asia rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
Western Asia ranks 14th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Western Asia?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Western Asia 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 Western Asia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rate-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/western-asia/

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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.