Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Colombia
Colombia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 8.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Colombia, 1975–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Colombia is 8.4%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 12.4% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Colombia peaked at 20.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 1980.
That places Colombia 48th 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 50 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Colombia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 10.5% | — |
| 1976 | 10.4% | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 9.4% | -9.6% |
| 1978 | 8.1% | -13.5% |
| 1979 | 8.9% | +9.5% |
| 1980 | 3.8% | -57.0% |
| 1981 | 8.1% | +112.3% |
| 1982 | 9.1% | +11.9% |
| 1983 | 11.1% | +22.3% |
| 1984 | 13.0% | +16.8% |
| 1985 | 13.9% | +6.8% |
| 1986 | 13.0% | -6.1% |
| 1987 | 10.9% | -16.2% |
| 1988 | 10.1% | -7.2% |
| 1989 | 8.8% | -13.0% |
| 1990 | 10.2% | +15.1% |
| 1991 | 10.1% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 9.4% | -6.8% |
| 1993 | 7.8% | -17.3% |
| 1994 | 7.6% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 8.7% | +14.7% |
| 1996 | 11.8% | +35.4% |
| 1997 | 12.1% | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 15.0% | +23.6% |
| 1999 | 20.1% | +33.7% |
| 2000 | 20.5% | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 15.0% | -26.7% |
| 2002 | 14.5% | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 13.2% | -8.7% |
| 2004 | 13.7% | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 11.1% | -19.4% |
| 2007 | 10.3% | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 10.5% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 11.3% | +7.6% |
| 2010 | 11.2% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 10.3% | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 10.0% | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 9.2% | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 8.8% | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 8.9% | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 9.1% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 9.4% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 10.3% | +9.8% |
| 2020 | 15.6% | +51.4% |
| 2021 | 13.9% | -10.7% |
| 2022 | 10.5% | -24.2% |
| 2023 | 9.6% | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 9.6% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 8.4% | -12.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.5% | 8.1% | 10.5% | 5 |
| 1980s | 10.2% | 3.8% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.3% | 7.6% | 20.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.3% | 10.3% | 20.5% | 9 |
| 2010s | 9.6% | 8.6% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.3% | 8.4% | 15.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More work & labour data for Colombia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6981 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7453 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1417 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 48,629 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 6,104 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 23,624 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 23,456 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 47,081 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Colombia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Colombia was 8.4% 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 1980.
- How does Colombia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Colombia ranks 48th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Colombia 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.