Unemployment rate in Romania
Romania: Unemployment rate was 6.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Romania, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Romania recorded 6.0% for unemployment rate in 2025.
That represents a change of up 11.0% on the previous year and down 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Romania peaked at 8.3% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2019.
That places Romania 75th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Romania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.2% | — |
| 1992 | 8.3% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 8.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 8.2% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 8.0% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 6.7% | -15.9% |
| 1997 | 5.5% | -18.2% |
| 1998 | 5.6% | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 6.2% | +10.8% |
| 2000 | 7.0% | +11.7% |
| 2001 | 6.6% | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 8.1% | +23.6% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | -14.3% |
| 2004 | 7.7% | +11.1% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | -11.8% |
| 2008 | 5.8% | -9.8% |
| 2009 | 6.9% | +18.5% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 6.8% | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 7.1% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 6.8% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 5.9% | -13.4% |
| 2017 | 4.9% | -16.5% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -15.0% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +28.7% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | +11.0% |
| 2022 | 5.6% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 5.6% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | -3.4% |
| 2025 | 6.0% | +11.0% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 6.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Romania's 6.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.2% | 5.5% | 8.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.0% | 5.8% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.1% | 3.9% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 5.0% | 6.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Romania
- 72 Luxembourg 6.3% compare
- 73 Central African Republic 6.3% compare
- 74 Portugal 6.2% compare
- 76 Puerto Rico 6.0% compare
- 77 Eritrea 6.0% compare
- 78 Brazil 6.0% compare
More work & labour data for Romania
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7777 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7486 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.8063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.18 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1264 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 10,932 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,465 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,408 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,360 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 10,768 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Romania?
- Unemployment rate in Romania was 6.0% 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 8.3% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2019.
- How does Romania rank for unemployment rate?
- Romania ranks 75th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Romania 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.