Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation in Ireland

Ireland: Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation was 4.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
4.7%
Change on year
up 9.3%
World rank
29th
of 45 countries
All-time high
15.6%
in 1993
All-time low
3.7%
in 2001
Years of data
34
1992–2025

Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation in Ireland, 1992–2025

2.557.51012.5151992200820251992: 15.1 Percentage1993: 15.6 Percentage1994: 14.6 Percentage1995: 12 Percentage1996: 11.7 Percentage1997: 10.2 Percentage1998: 7.7 Percentage1999: 5.8 Percentage2000: 4.3 Percentage2001: 3.7 Percentage2002: 4.2 Percentage2003: 4.5 Percentage2004: 4.5 Percentage2005: 4.4 Percentage2006: 4.4 Percentage2007: 5 Percentage2008: 6.8 Percentage2009: 12.6 Percentage2010: 14.6 Percentage2011: 15.4 Percentage2012: 15.5 Percentage2013: 13.8 Percentage2014: 11.9 Percentage2015: 10 Percentage2016: 8.4 Percentage2017: 6.7 Percentage2018: 5.8 Percentage2019: 5 Percentage2020: 5.7 Percentage2021: 6.2 Percentage2022: 4.5 Percentage2023: 4.3 Percentage2024: 4.3 Percentage2025: 4.7 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation in Ireland is 4.7%, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.3% on the previous year and down 53.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation in Ireland peaked at 15.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2001.

That places Ireland 29th out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation in Ireland, 1992 to 2025.
Year Percentage Change
1992 15.1%
1993 15.6% +3.3%
1994 14.6% -6.4%
1995 12.0% -17.8%
1996 11.7% -2.5%
1997 10.2% -12.8%
1998 7.7% -24.5%
1999 5.8% -24.7%
2000 4.3% -25.9%
2001 3.7% -14.0%
2002 4.2% +13.5%
2003 4.5% +7.1%
2004 4.5% +0.0%
2005 4.4% -2.2%
2006 4.4% +0.0%
2007 5.0% +13.6%
2008 6.8% +36.0%
2009 12.6% +85.3%
2010 14.6% +15.9%
2011 15.4% +5.5%
2012 15.5% +0.6%
2013 13.8% -11.0%
2014 11.9% -13.8%
2015 10.0% -16.0%
2016 8.4% -16.0%
2017 6.7% -20.2%
2018 5.8% -13.4%
2019 5.0% -13.8%
2020 5.7% +14.0%
2021 6.2% +8.8%
2022 4.5% -27.4%
2023 4.3% -4.4%
2024 4.3% +0.0%
2025 4.7% +9.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 11.6% 5.8% 15.6% 8
2000s 5.4% 3.7% 12.6% 10
2010s 10.7% 5.0% 15.5% 10
2020s 5.0% 4.3% 6.2% 6

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 26 Switzerland 4.9% compare
  2. 26 Croatia 4.9% compare
  3. 26 Croatia 4.9% compare
  4. 30 Iceland 4.5% compare
  5. 30 Norway 4.5% compare
  6. 32 Cyprus 4.4% compare
  7. 32 Hungary 4.4% compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation in Ireland?
Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation in Ireland was 4.7% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 15.6% in 1993.
What is the lowest unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2001.
How does Ireland rank for unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation?
Ireland ranks 29th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
Is unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 53.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rates-by-degree-of-urbanisation/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rates by degree of urbanisation
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,326 data points, 1992–2025
Last refreshed