Unemployment rate in Cuba
Cuba: Unemployment rate was 1.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rate in Cuba, 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 Cuba is 1.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Cuba peaked at 9.3% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2008.
That places Cuba 172nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment rate in Cuba, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.3% | — |
| 1992 | 8.8% | +5.7% |
| 1993 | 9.3% | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 8.8% | -5.0% |
| 1995 | 8.3% | -6.1% |
| 1996 | 7.6% | -8.0% |
| 1997 | 7.1% | -6.7% |
| 1998 | 6.2% | -12.3% |
| 1999 | 6.3% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | -12.9% |
| 2001 | 4.1% | -25.1% |
| 2002 | 3.3% | -18.9% |
| 2003 | 2.3% | -29.6% |
| 2004 | 1.9% | -20.4% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 1.8% | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -11.5% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | +49.7% |
| 2011 | 3.2% | +27.2% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -17.9% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | -16.7% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | +31.0% |
| 2021 | 2.1% | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 1.8% | -13.3% |
| 2023 | 1.7% | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 1.7% | -0.5% |
Cuba compared with similar countries
- Cuba's 1.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 31% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Cuba's 1.7% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6.0%, 29% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.8% | 6.2% | 9.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.6% | 1.6% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 1.7% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cuba
More work & labour data for Cuba
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.07 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.16 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1738 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,101 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,722 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,757 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,821 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,577 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Cuba?
- Unemployment rate in Cuba was 1.7% 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 Cuba?
- The highest recorded value was 9.3% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Cuba?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2008.
- How does Cuba rank for unemployment rate?
- Cuba ranks 172nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Cuba?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cuba 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.
Download this data
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.