Unemployment rate in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Unemployment rate was 12.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in North Macedonia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in North Macedonia stood at 12.3%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 53.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in North Macedonia peaked at 38.8% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 2025.
That places North Macedonia 24th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.8% | 24.5% | 38.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 34.4% | 30.5% | 37.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.5% | 17.4% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.1% | 12.3% | 16.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
- 21 Afghanistan 13.4% compare
- 22 Armenia 12.9% compare
- 23 South Sudan 12.4% compare
- 25 Georgia 12.1% compare
- 26 Guyana 12.0% compare
- 27 Cabo Verde 11.9% compare
More work & labour data for North Macedonia
- 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)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 51.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 61.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 69.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 42.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 65.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 55.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in North Macedonia?
- Unemployment rate in North Macedonia was 12.3% 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 38.8% in 1996.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 2025.
- How does North Macedonia rank for unemployment rate?
- North Macedonia ranks 24th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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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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.