Unemployment rate in Singapore

Singapore: Unemployment rate was 2.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
2.8%
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
154th
of 186 countries
All-time high
5.9%
in 2003
All-time low
2.2%
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025

Unemployment rate in Singapore, 1991–2025

02461991200820251991: 2.2 %1992: 3.1 %1993: 3.1 %1994: 3 %1995: 3.3 %1996: 3.6 %1997: 2.5 %1998: 3.4 %1999: 4.8 %2000: 3.7 %2001: 3.8 %2002: 5.7 %2003: 5.9 %2004: 5.8 %2005: 5.6 %2006: 4.5 %2007: 3.9 %2008: 4 %2009: 5.9 %2010: 4.1 %2011: 3.9 %2012: 3.7 %2013: 3.9 %2014: 3.7 %2015: 3.8 %2016: 4.1 %2017: 4.2 %2018: 3.6 %2019: 3.1 %2020: 4.1 %2021: 4.6 %2022: 3.6 %2023: 3.4 %2024: 2.7 %2025: 2.8 %

Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2025, unemployment rate in Singapore stood at 2.8%.

The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and down 25.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Singapore peaked at 5.9% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1991.

Singapore ranks 154th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 3.2% 2.2% 4.8% 9
2000s 4.9% 3.7% 5.9% 10
2010s 3.8% 3.1% 4.2% 10
2020s 3.6% 2.7% 4.6% 6

Countries ranked near Singapore

  1. 151 Liberia 2.9% compare
  2. 152 Mali 2.8% compare
  3. 153 Czechia 2.8% compare
  4. 155 Hong Kong 2.8% compare
  5. 156 Uganda 2.7% compare
  6. 157 Senegal 2.7% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for Singapore

All data for Singapore →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate in Singapore?
Unemployment rate in Singapore was 2.8% 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 Singapore?
The highest recorded value was 5.9% in 2003.
What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Singapore?
The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1991.
How does Singapore rank for unemployment rate?
Singapore ranks 154th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Singapore?
Over the last ten years it is down 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Singapore 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

Indicator
Unemployment rate
Unit
%
Source
ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,496 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.