Unemployment rate in Colombia
Colombia: Unemployment rate was 8.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Colombia, 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 Colombia is 8.3%, 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 20.5% 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 | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.1% | — |
| 1992 | 9.4% | -6.7% |
| 1993 | 7.8% | -17.4% |
| 1994 | 8.2% | +5.8% |
| 1995 | 8.7% | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 11.8% | +35.4% |
| 1997 | 12.1% | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 15.0% | +23.6% |
| 1999 | 20.1% | +33.7% |
| 2000 | 20.5% | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 15.0% | -26.7% |
| 2002 | 14.5% | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 13.2% | -8.7% |
| 2004 | 13.7% | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 11.1% | -19.4% |
| 2006 | 11.1% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 11.2% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 11.3% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 12.1% | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 11.2% | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 10.3% | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 10.0% | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 9.2% | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 8.8% | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 8.9% | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 9.1% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 9.4% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 10.3% | +9.8% |
| 2020 | 16.0% | +55.5% |
| 2021 | 13.9% | -13.0% |
| 2022 | 10.5% | -24.2% |
| 2023 | 9.6% | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 9.6% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 8.3% | -13.8% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 8.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 1.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 8.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6.0%, 1.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.5% | 7.8% | 20.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 13.4% | 11.1% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.6% | 8.6% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.3% | 8.3% | 16.0% | 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 8.3% 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.5% 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 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.