Unemployment rate in Belize
Belize: Unemployment rate was 8.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Belize, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Belize stood at 8.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Belize peaked at 14.3% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 2017.
Belize ranks 47th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.8% | 9.6% | 14.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.6% | 8.2% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 6.6% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.3% | 8.3% | 10.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More work & labour data for Belize
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 59.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 71.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 64.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 46.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 62.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 74.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 49.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Belize?
- Unemployment rate in Belize was 8.9% 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 Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 14.3% in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 2017.
- How does Belize rank for unemployment rate?
- Belize ranks 47th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belize 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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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.