Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bangladesh, 1984–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Bangladesh recorded 3.6% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2024.
The figure is up 8.4% on the previous year and down 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bangladesh peaked at 5.0% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1989.
Bangladesh ranks 133rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 2.0% | — |
| 1985 | 2.0% | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | -52.5% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | -3.6% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | +137.4% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | +14.5% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | +30.0% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | +32.2% |
| 2005 | 4.3% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | -15.6% |
| 2009 | 5.0% | +39.2% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -32.4% |
| 2011 | 2.5% | -25.9% |
| 2013 | 4.4% | +76.8% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 4.4% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 4.6% | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | -27.0% |
| 2024 | 3.6% | +8.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.5% | 0.9% | 2.0% | 4 |
| 1990s | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.1% | 3.3% | 5.0% | 5 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 2.5% | 4.4% | 5 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | 3.4% | 4.6% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
- 131 Germany 3.8% compare
- 132 Hong Kong, China 3.7% compare
- 134 Bulgaria 3.5% compare
- 135 Kyrgyzstan 3.5% compare
- 136 Nigeria 3.5% compare
More work & labour data for Bangladesh
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4985 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5215 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 117,837 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 84,090 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 104,333 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 104,263 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 208,597 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bangladesh?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bangladesh was 3.6% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 2009.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1989.
- How does Bangladesh rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Bangladesh ranks 133rd out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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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About this data
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.