Unemployment rate in Bahamas
Bahamas: Unemployment rate was 9.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment rate in Bahamas, 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 in Bahamas is 9.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Bahamas peaked at 16.2% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 2001.
Bahamas ranks 43rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Unemployment rate in Bahamas, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 12.2% | — |
| 1992 | 14.8% | +21.7% |
| 1993 | 12.7% | -14.1% |
| 1994 | 13.8% | +8.7% |
| 1995 | 10.8% | -21.7% |
| 1996 | 11.5% | +5.8% |
| 1997 | 9.8% | -14.8% |
| 1998 | 7.7% | -21.6% |
| 1999 | 7.5% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 7.1% | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 6.9% | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 9.1% | +31.7% |
| 2003 | 10.8% | +19.8% |
| 2004 | 10.2% | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 10.2% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | -26.1% |
| 2007 | 7.9% | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 8.2% | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 14.2% | +74.2% |
| 2010 | 14.4% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 14.5% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 14.0% | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 16.2% | +15.4% |
| 2014 | 13.8% | -14.7% |
| 2015 | 12.0% | -13.0% |
| 2016 | 12.7% | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 9.8% | -22.8% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 9.3% | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | +28.7% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 9.2% | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 8.6% | -6.5% |
| 2024 | 9.0% | +4.7% |
| 2025 | 9.2% | +1.7% |
Bahamas compared with similar countries
- Bahamas's 9.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 1.8× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bahamas's 9.2% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6.0%, 1.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate in Bahamas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +74.2% | 8.2% | 14.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.2% | 7.5% | 14.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.2% | 6.9% | 14.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 9.3% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.9% | 8.6% | 12.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bahamas
More work & labour data for Bahamas
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.2501 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.2148 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.2821 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4187 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 419.94 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 54.95 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 200.05 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 184.9 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 384.95 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Bahamas?
- Unemployment rate in Bahamas was 9.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Bahamas?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Bahamas?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 2001.
- How does Bahamas rank for unemployment rate?
- Bahamas ranks 43rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Bahamas?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Bahamas 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.