Unemployment rate in Latvia
Latvia: Unemployment rate was 6.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Latvia, 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 Latvia is 6.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 4.8% on the previous year and down 33.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Latvia peaked at 20.7% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1991.
Latvia ranks 68th 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 Latvia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.7% | — |
| 1992 | 6.6% | +144.4% |
| 1993 | 16.7% | +153.0% |
| 1994 | 18.7% | +12.0% |
| 1995 | 19.0% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 20.7% | +8.9% |
| 1997 | 14.9% | -28.0% |
| 1998 | 14.5% | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 13.8% | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 14.2% | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 13.8% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 13.8% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 12.1% | -12.8% |
| 2004 | 11.7% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 10.0% | -14.3% |
| 2006 | 7.0% | -29.9% |
| 2007 | 6.1% | -13.9% |
| 2008 | 7.7% | +27.9% |
| 2009 | 17.5% | +126.3% |
| 2010 | 19.5% | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 16.2% | -16.8% |
| 2012 | 15.0% | -7.2% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | -21.1% |
| 2014 | 10.8% | -8.6% |
| 2015 | 9.9% | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 9.6% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 8.7% | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | -15.0% |
| 2019 | 6.3% | -14.8% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | +28.3% |
| 2021 | 7.5% | -7.2% |
| 2022 | 6.8% | -9.3% |
| 2023 | 6.5% | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 6.9% | +6.7% |
| 2025 | 6.6% | -4.8% |
Latvia compared with similar countries
- Latvia's 6.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 1.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Latvia's 6.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate in Latvia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +153.0% | 6.6% | 16.7% |
| 1992 | +144.4% | 2.7% | 6.6% |
| 2009 | +126.3% | 7.7% | 17.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.2% | 2.7% | 20.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.4% | 6.1% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.5% | 6.3% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.1% | 6.5% | 8.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latvia
More work & labour data for Latvia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.04 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.2718 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,152 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 365.13 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 470.3 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 455.07 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 925.37 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Latvia?
- Unemployment rate in Latvia was 6.6% 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 Latvia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.7% in 1996.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Latvia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1991.
- How does Latvia rank for unemployment rate?
- Latvia ranks 68th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Latvia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latvia 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.