Unemployment rate in Myanmar
Myanmar: Unemployment rate was 3.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rate in Myanmar, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Myanmar stood at 3.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.5% on the previous year and up 297.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Myanmar peaked at 4.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2019.
That places Myanmar 144th 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 Myanmar, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.8% | — |
| 1992 | 0.8% | -3.9% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 0.7% | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 0.8% | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 0.8% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 0.8% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 0.7% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 0.7% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 0.7% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 1.1% | +38.1% |
| 2017 | 1.4% | +28.2% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -43.4% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | -46.9% |
| 2020 | 1.5% | +262.7% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | +194.0% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -29.4% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 2.9% | -3.0% |
| 2025 | 3.0% | +5.5% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 3.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 60% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 3.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate in Myanmar 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +262.7% | 0.4% | 1.5% |
| 2021 | +194.0% | 1.5% | 4.3% |
| 2019 | -46.9% | 0.8% | 0.4% |
| 2018 | -43.4% | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| 2016 | +38.1% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| 2022 | -29.4% | 4.3% | 3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 1.5% | 4.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
- 141 Slovenia 3.2% compare
- 142 Sierra Leone 3.1% compare
- 143 Nigeria 3.1% compare
- 145 Madagascar 3.0% compare
- 146 Saudi Arabia 3.0% compare
- 147 Ghana 3.0% compare
More work & labour data for Myanmar
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4735 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5269 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.46 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 29,392 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 32,967 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 25,258 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 24,401 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 49,659 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Myanmar?
- Unemployment rate in Myanmar was 3.0% 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 Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2019.
- How does Myanmar rank for unemployment rate?
- Myanmar ranks 144th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 297.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Myanmar 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.