Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Brazil
Brazil: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 5.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Brazil, 1972–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Brazil is 5.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.2% on the previous year and down 31.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Brazil peaked at 13.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1976.
That places Brazil 82nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Brazil, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 3.1% | — |
| 1973 | 6.3% | +106.1% |
| 1976 | 1.9% | -69.5% |
| 1977 | 2.3% | +20.5% |
| 1978 | 2.4% | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 2.8% | +16.9% |
| 1981 | 4.0% | +44.6% |
| 1982 | 3.9% | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 4.6% | +18.5% |
| 1984 | 4.0% | -12.6% |
| 1985 | 3.4% | -16.3% |
| 1986 | 2.4% | -29.9% |
| 1987 | 3.6% | +49.9% |
| 1988 | 3.8% | +6.7% |
| 1989 | 4.1% | +9.3% |
| 1990 | 4.7% | +13.5% |
| 1992 | 7.1% | +50.7% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | -14.9% |
| 1995 | 7.1% | +17.6% |
| 1996 | 8.0% | +13.3% |
| 1997 | 9.0% | +12.0% |
| 1998 | 10.2% | +12.7% |
| 1999 | 11.1% | +9.6% |
| 2001 | 10.6% | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 10.6% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 11.2% | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 10.1% | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 10.6% | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 9.7% | -8.1% |
| 2007 | 9.3% | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 8.3% | -10.9% |
| 2009 | 9.4% | +13.9% |
| 2011 | 7.6% | -19.5% |
| 2012 | 7.3% | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 7.1% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 8.5% | +26.4% |
| 2016 | 11.6% | +35.6% |
| 2017 | 12.8% | +10.5% |
| 2018 | 12.3% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 13.7% | +14.8% |
| 2021 | 13.2% | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 9.2% | -29.8% |
| 2023 | 7.9% | -13.9% |
| 2024 | 6.8% | -14.4% |
| 2025 | 5.8% | -14.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.1% | 1.9% | 6.3% | 6 |
| 1980s | 3.8% | 2.4% | 4.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 7.9% | 4.7% | 11.1% | 8 |
| 2000s | 10.0% | 8.3% | 11.2% | 9 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 6.8% | 12.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 9.4% | 5.8% | 13.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More work & labour data for Brazil
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7328 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7065 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7581 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.74 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1001 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 215,063 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 17,625 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 82,304 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 81,060 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 163,364 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Brazil?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Brazil was 5.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 13.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1976.
- How does Brazil rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Brazil ranks 82nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Brazil 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.
Download this data
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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.