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

Benin: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 1.7% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
1.7%
Change on year
up 38.8%
World rank
173rd
of 187 countries
All-time high
3.6%
in 2003
All-time low
0.2%
in 1986
Years of data
9
1986–2022

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Benin, 1986–2022

012341986200420221986: 0.1771992: 1.52002: 0.6852003: 3.62010: 12011: 2.62013: 2.22019: 1.22022: 1.7

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

Analysis

Benin recorded 1.7% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 38.8% on the previous year and down 36.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Benin peaked at 3.6% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1986.

That places Benin 173rd out of 187 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Benin, 1986 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1986 0.2%
1992 1.5% +753.1%
2002 0.7% -54.6%
2003 3.6% +430.4%
2010 1.0% -71.3%
2011 2.6% +154.3%
2013 2.2% -17.0%
2019 1.2% -44.8%
2022 1.7% +38.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 1
1990s 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1
2000s 2.2% 0.7% 3.6% 2
2010s 1.8% 1.0% 2.6% 4
2020s 1.7% 1.7% 1.7% 1

Countries ranked near Benin

  1. 170 Guatemala 1.9% compare
  2. 171 United Arab Emirates 1.9% compare
  3. 172 Cuba 1.7% compare
  4. 174 Tonga 1.7% compare
  5. 175 Timor-Leste 1.5% compare
  6. 176 Viet Nam 1.5% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Benin

All data for Benin →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Benin?
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Benin was 1.7% in 2022, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Benin?
The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 2003.
What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Benin?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1986.
How does Benin rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Benin ranks 173rd out of 187 countries with data for 2022.
Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Benin?
Over the last ten years it is down 36.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Benin 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 Benin. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/benin/

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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.