Unemployment rate in Ireland
Ireland: Unemployment rate was 4.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rate in Ireland, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Ireland stood at 4.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.7% on the previous year and down 53.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Ireland peaked at 15.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2001.
Ireland ranks 109th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.0% | 5.8% | 15.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 3.7% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.7% | 5.0% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 4.2% | 6.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 106 Kazakhstan 4.8% compare
- 107 United Kingdom 4.7% compare
- 108 Norway 4.6% compare
- 110 Uzbekistan 4.6% compare
- 111 China 4.6% compare
- 112 Hungary 4.5% compare
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- 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)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 53.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 53.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 70.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 59.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Ireland?
- Unemployment rate in Ireland was 4.6% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 15.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2001.
- How does Ireland rank for unemployment rate?
- Ireland ranks 109th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.