Unemployment rate in Mexico
Mexico: Unemployment rate was 2.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
2.7%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
159th
of 186 countries
All-time high
7.1%
in 1995
All-time low
2.6%
in 1999
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in Mexico, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Mexico recorded 2.7% for unemployment rate in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 38.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Mexico peaked at 7.1% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1999.
Mexico ranks 159th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Mexico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.1% | — |
| 1992 | 3.2% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 3.4% | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 4.4% | +31.8% |
| 1995 | 7.1% | +59.9% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | -23.0% |
| 1997 | 4.2% | -22.5% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | -11.9% |
| 1999 | 2.6% | -30.4% |
| 2000 | 2.6% | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | +14.3% |
| 2003 | 3.5% | +15.1% |
| 2004 | 3.9% | +14.0% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | -9.6% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 3.9% | +6.8% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | +38.3% |
| 2010 | 5.3% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 5.2% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | -10.6% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | -11.3% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 3.5% | +6.2% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | +27.7% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | -9.5% |
| 2022 | 3.3% | -19.0% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | -15.1% |
| 2024 | 2.7% | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 2.7% | -0.2% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 2.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 47% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 2.7% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6.0%, 45% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.1% | 2.6% | 7.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 2.6% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 3.3% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 2.7% | 4.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
- 156 Uganda 2.7% compare
- 157 Senegal 2.7% compare
- 158 South Korea 2.7% compare
- 159 Guinea-Bissau 2.7% compare
- 161 Guatemala 2.6% compare
- 162 Papua New Guinea 2.6% compare
More work & labour data for Mexico
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5786 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5539 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6038 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.41 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5363 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 144,910 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 19,369 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 65,616 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 64,633 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 130,249 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Mexico?
- Unemployment rate in Mexico was 2.7% 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 7.1% in 1995.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1999.
- How does Mexico rank for unemployment rate?
- Mexico ranks 159th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mexico 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.