Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahamas

Bahamas: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 10.3% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
10.3%
World rank
33rd
of 187 countries
All-time high
21.2%
in 1975
All-time low
6.9%
in 2001
Years of data
36
1973–2023

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahamas, 1973–2023

51015201973199820231973: 8.51975: 21.21977: 20.71979: 14.71986: 12.21988: 111989: 11.71990: 7.81991: 12.31992: 14.81993: 12.81994: 13.31995: 10.91996: 11.51997: 9.81998: 7.91999: 7.82001: 6.92002: 9.12003: 10.82004: 10.22005: 10.22006: 7.62007: 7.92008: 8.72009: 14.22011: 14.52012: 14.72013: 16.22014: 13.82015: 122016: 12.72017: 9.82018: 102019: 9.32023: 10.3

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Bahamas recorded 10.3% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2023.

The figure is down 36.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahamas peaked at 21.2% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 2001.

Bahamas ranks 33rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahamas, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Bahamas, 1973 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1973 8.5%
1975 21.2% +149.4%
1977 20.7% -2.4%
1979 14.7% -29.0%
1986 12.2% -17.2%
1988 11.0% -9.5%
1989 11.7% +6.2%
1990 7.8% -33.6%
1991 12.3% +58.1%
1992 14.8% +20.5%
1993 12.8% -13.6%
1994 13.3% +3.9%
1995 10.9% -18.0%
1996 11.5% +5.6%
1997 9.8% -14.9%
1998 7.9% -19.8%
1999 7.8% -0.7%
2001 6.9% -11.7%
2002 9.1% +32.2%
2003 10.8% +19.1%
2004 10.2% -5.8%
2005 10.2% -0.3%
2006 7.6% -25.2%
2007 7.9% +3.3%
2008 8.7% +10.9%
2009 14.2% +63.0%
2011 14.5% +2.3%
2012 14.7% +1.2%
2013 16.2% +10.1%
2014 13.8% -14.7%
2015 12.0% -13.0%
2016 12.7% +5.8%
2017 9.8% -22.8%
2018 10.0% +2.0%
2019 9.3% -6.6%
2023 10.3% +10.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 16.3% 8.5% 21.2% 4
1980s 11.6% 11.0% 12.2% 3
1990s 10.9% 7.8% 14.8% 10
2000s 9.5% 6.9% 14.2% 9
2010s 12.6% 9.3% 16.2% 9
2020s 10.3% 10.3% 10.3% 1

Countries ranked near Bahamas

  1. 30 Spain 10.5% compare
  2. 31 Mauritania 10.4% compare
  3. 32 Angola 10.4% compare
  4. 34 New Caledonia 10.2% compare
  5. 35 Ukraine 9.8% compare
  6. 36 Marshall Islands 9.8% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Bahamas

All data for Bahamas →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahamas?
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahamas was 10.3% in 2023, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Bahamas?
The highest recorded value was 21.2% in 1975.
What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Bahamas?
The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 2001.
How does Bahamas rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Bahamas ranks 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Bahamas?
Over the last ten years it is down 36.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Bahamas data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahamas. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/bahamas-the/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 6,054 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.