Unemployment rate in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Unemployment rate was 4.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in United Kingdom, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in United Kingdom stood at 4.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.8% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in United Kingdom peaked at 10.3% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2019.
United Kingdom ranks 107th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.3% | 6.0% | 10.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 4.6% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.1% | 3.7% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.4% | 3.8% | 4.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 104 Switzerland 4.9% compare
- 105 Paraguay 4.8% compare
- 106 Kazakhstan 4.8% compare
- 108 Norway 4.6% compare
- 109 Ireland 4.6% compare
- 110 Uzbekistan 4.6% compare
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- 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+) 61.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 76.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 73.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in United Kingdom?
- Unemployment rate in United Kingdom was 4.7% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 10.3% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2019.
- How does United Kingdom rank for unemployment rate?
- United Kingdom ranks 107th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
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.