Unemployment rate in Colombia
Colombia: Unemployment rate was 8.29 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
8.29
Change on year
down 13.8%
World rank
55th
of 186 countries
All-time high
20.52
in 2000
All-time low
7.8
in 1993
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in Colombia, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Colombia is 8.29, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.8% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Colombia peaked at 20.52 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 7.8, in 1993.
Colombia ranks 55th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Colombia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.12 | — |
| 1992 | 9.44 | -6.7% |
| 1993 | 7.8 | -17.4% |
| 1994 | 8.25 | +5.8% |
| 1995 | 8.72 | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 11.81 | +35.4% |
| 1997 | 12.14 | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 15 | +23.6% |
| 1999 | 20.06 | +33.7% |
| 2000 | 20.52 | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 15.04 | -26.7% |
| 2002 | 14.48 | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 13.22 | -8.7% |
| 2004 | 13.72 | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 11.06 | -19.4% |
| 2006 | 11.09 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 11.2 | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 11.27 | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 12.07 | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 11.15 | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 10.29 | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 9.96 | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 9.25 | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 8.8 | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 8.57 | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 8.92 | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 9.09 | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 9.36 | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 10.28 | +9.8% |
| 2020 | 15.98 | +55.5% |
| 2021 | 13.9 | -13.0% |
| 2022 | 10.54 | -24.2% |
| 2023 | 9.59 | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 9.62 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 8.29 | -13.8% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 8.29 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.63, 1.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 8.29 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5.99, 1.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.48 | 7.8 | 20.06 | 9 |
| 2000s | 13.37 | 11.06 | 20.52 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.57 | 8.57 | 11.15 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.32 | 8.29 | 15.98 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More work & labour data for Colombia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6981 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7453 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1417 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 48,629 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 6,104 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 23,624 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 23,456 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 47,081 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Colombia?
- Unemployment rate in Colombia was 8.29 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.52 in 2000.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8 in 1993.
- How does Colombia rank for unemployment rate?
- Colombia ranks 55th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Colombia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).