Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Unemployment rate of men vs. women was 12.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Afghanistan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate of men vs. women in Afghanistan is 12.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and up 49.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate of men vs. women in Afghanistan peaked at 13.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 2010.
That places Afghanistan 21st out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.5% | — |
| 1992 | 7.4% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 7.4% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 7.4% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 7.4% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 7.4% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 7.4% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 7.5% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 7.4% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 7.4% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 7.4% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 7.3% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 7.3% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 7.3% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 7.4% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 7.3% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 8.4% | +14.2% |
| 2016 | 9.4% | +12.0% |
| 2017 | 10.4% | +10.4% |
| 2018 | 10.2% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 10.0% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 10.5% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 13.2% | +20.6% |
| 2023 | 13.1% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 12.8% | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 12.5% | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.5% | 7.3% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 10.5% | 13.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 18 North Macedonia 13.1% compare
- 19 Montenegro 13.0% compare
- 20 Tunisia 12.8% compare
- 22 Cape Verde 12.4% compare
- 23 Haiti 12.3% compare
- 24 Armenia 12.1% compare
More work & labour data for Afghanistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4637 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4511 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4755 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.088 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 25,498 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 36,430 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 65,039 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 65,177 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 130,217 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate of men vs. women in Afghanistan?
- Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Afghanistan was 12.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 13.2% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 2010.
- How does Afghanistan rank for unemployment rate of men vs. women?
- Afghanistan ranks 21st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate of men vs. women rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate of men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.