Unemployment rate in Belarus
Belarus: Unemployment rate was 3.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rate in Belarus, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Belarus stood at 3.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 42.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Belarus peaked at 24.4% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1991.
Belarus ranks 132nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment rate in Belarus, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.6% | — |
| 1992 | 3.1% | +416.7% |
| 1993 | 8.5% | +174.2% |
| 1994 | 12.8% | +50.6% |
| 1995 | 17.7% | +38.3% |
| 1996 | 24.4% | +37.9% |
| 1997 | 17.1% | -29.9% |
| 1998 | 14.0% | -18.1% |
| 1999 | 12.8% | -8.6% |
| 2000 | 12.2% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 11.6% | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 10.9% | -5.9% |
| 2003 | 10.2% | -6.3% |
| 2004 | 9.5% | -7.1% |
| 2005 | 8.8% | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 8.1% | -7.9% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 6.7% | -9.2% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | -9.3% |
| 2010 | 6.1% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 6.0% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 6.0% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 5.9% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 5.9% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 5.9% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 5.8% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | -15.7% |
| 2019 | 4.2% | -12.6% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | -8.4% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 3.4% | -2.3% |
Belarus compared with similar countries
- Belarus's 3.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 60% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Belarus's 3.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 61% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate in Belarus 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +416.7% | 0.6% | 3.1% |
| 1993 | +174.2% | 3.1% | 8.5% |
| 1994 | +50.6% | 8.5% | 12.8% |
| 1995 | +38.3% | 12.8% | 17.7% |
| 1996 | +37.9% | 17.7% | 24.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.3% | 0.6% | 24.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.1% | 6.1% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 4.2% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.4% | 4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belarus
- 129 Kyrgyzstan 3.5% compare
- 130 Israel 3.5% compare
- 131 Burkina Faso 3.5% compare
- 133 Trinidad and Tobago 3.3% compare
- 134 Ethiopia 3.3% compare
- 135 Ecuador 3.3% compare
More work & labour data for Belarus
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.18 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.0716 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,566 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,004 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,235 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,116 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 4,351 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Belarus?
- Unemployment rate in Belarus was 3.4% 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 Belarus?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4% in 1996.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Belarus?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1991.
- How does Belarus rank for unemployment rate?
- Belarus ranks 132nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Belarus?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belarus 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.