Unemployment rate in Uruguay
Uruguay: Unemployment rate was 7.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Uruguay, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Uruguay stood at 7.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.4% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Uruguay peaked at 16.7% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 2011.
Uruguay ranks 59th 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.
Unemployment rate in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.9% | — |
| 1992 | 9.0% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 8.3% | -6.8% |
| 1994 | 9.0% | +8.3% |
| 1995 | 10.0% | +10.8% |
| 1996 | 11.9% | +19.1% |
| 1997 | 11.4% | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 9.4% | -18.2% |
| 1999 | 10.5% | +11.8% |
| 2000 | 12.6% | +20.6% |
| 2001 | 15.1% | +19.2% |
| 2002 | 16.6% | +10.6% |
| 2003 | 16.7% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 13.0% | -22.1% |
| 2005 | 12.0% | -7.5% |
| 2006 | 10.8% | -9.7% |
| 2007 | 9.4% | -13.3% |
| 2008 | 8.0% | -14.7% |
| 2009 | 7.7% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 7.2% | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 6.3% | -11.9% |
| 2012 | 6.5% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 6.4% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 7.5% | +14.4% |
| 2016 | 7.8% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 7.9% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 8.3% | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 8.8% | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 10.4% | +17.8% |
| 2021 | 9.3% | -10.4% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -15.6% |
| 2023 | 8.4% | +6.1% |
| 2024 | 8.2% | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 7.5% | -8.4% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 7.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 1.5× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 7.5% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6.0%, 1.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.8% | 8.3% | 11.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.2% | 7.7% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.3% | 6.3% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.6% | 7.5% | 10.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More work & labour data for Uruguay
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.72 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0269 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,567 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 95.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,144 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,102 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 2,246 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Uruguay?
- Unemployment rate in Uruguay was 7.5% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 16.7% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 2011.
- How does Uruguay rank for unemployment rate?
- Uruguay ranks 59th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.