Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Central Europe and the Baltics
Central Europe and the Baltics: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Central Europe and the Baltics, 1992–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Central Europe and the Baltics is 4.2%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 4.1% on the previous year and down 46.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Central Europe and the Baltics peaked at 14.0% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2019.
Central Europe and the Baltics ranks 30th of 33 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Central Europe and the Baltics, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 10.6% | — |
| 1993 | 12.7% | +19.0% |
| 1994 | 12.0% | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 11.1% | -7.4% |
| 1996 | 10.3% | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 9.4% | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 9.2% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 10.6% | +15.6% |
| 2000 | 12.1% | +14.4% |
| 2001 | 13.5% | +11.1% |
| 2002 | 14.0% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 13.3% | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 12.9% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 12.0% | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 10.1% | -15.8% |
| 2007 | 7.8% | -22.9% |
| 2008 | 6.6% | -15.5% |
| 2009 | 8.5% | +29.0% |
| 2010 | 9.9% | +16.6% |
| 2011 | 9.8% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 10.0% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 10.1% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 8.9% | -11.9% |
| 2015 | 7.8% | -12.0% |
| 2016 | 6.5% | -17.1% |
| 2017 | 5.3% | -18.5% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | -18.6% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -12.4% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | +15.7% |
| 2021 | 4.4% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 4.0% | -10.8% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 4.0% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | +4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.7% | 9.2% | 12.7% | 8 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 6.6% | 14.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.6% | 3.8% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Central Europe and the Baltics
More work & labour data for Central Europe and the Baltics
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 50.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 64.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 25.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 32.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 29.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 74.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 68.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Central Europe and the Baltics was 4.2% 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 Central Europe and the Baltics?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2002.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2019.
- How does Central Europe and the Baltics rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Central Europe and the Baltics ranks 30th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Central Europe and the Baltics 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.