Unemployment rate in Thailand
Thailand: Unemployment rate was 0.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rate in Thailand, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Thailand stood at 0.8%.
The figure is up 30.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Thailand peaked at 3.4% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2013.
Thailand ranks 183rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment rate in Thailand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.6% | — |
| 1992 | 1.4% | -48.7% |
| 1993 | 1.5% | +10.4% |
| 1994 | 1.3% | -9.6% |
| 1995 | 1.1% | -18.3% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | -18.5% |
| 1998 | 3.4% | +289.9% |
| 1999 | 3.0% | -12.8% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | -19.5% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | +8.8% |
| 2002 | 1.8% | -30.0% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | -15.4% |
| 2004 | 1.5% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | -10.6% |
| 2006 | 1.2% | -9.6% |
| 2007 | 1.2% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | +26.3% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | -58.3% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | -12.1% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -57.1% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | +131.3% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | +15.2% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | +20.6% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -7.8% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | -6.4% |
| 2020 | 1.1% | +53.5% |
| 2021 | 1.2% | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 0.9% | -22.6% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | -22.0% |
| 2024 | 0.8% | +6.5% |
| 2025 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 0.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 14% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 0.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 26% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate in Thailand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +289.9% | 0.9% | 3.4% |
| 2014 | +131.3% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.8% | 0.9% | 3.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More work & labour data for Thailand
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7473 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7165 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7773 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1451 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 45,410 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 19,963 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 23,079 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 22,476 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 45,555 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Thailand?
- Unemployment rate in Thailand was 0.8% 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 Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 3.4% in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2013.
- How does Thailand rank for unemployment rate?
- Thailand ranks 183rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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.