Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 5.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Europe & Central Asia, 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 Europe & Central Asia is 5.4%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 37.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 10.5% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 2025.
That places Europe & Central Asia 12th out of 33 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 7.6% | — |
| 1993 | 9.0% | +18.0% |
| 1994 | 9.8% | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 9.5% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 9.8% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 10.1% | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 10.3% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 10.5% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 9.2% | -12.1% |
| 2001 | 8.7% | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 8.6% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 8.7% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 8.7% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 8.4% | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 8.0% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 7.3% | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 7.2% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 9.2% | +27.8% |
| 2010 | 9.1% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 8.8% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 9.1% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 9.2% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 9.0% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 8.5% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 8.1% | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 7.0% | -6.3% |
| 2019 | 6.8% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 7.1% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 7.0% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | -15.7% |
| 2023 | 5.6% | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | -3.7% |
| 2025 | 5.4% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.6% | 7.6% | 10.5% | 8 |
| 2000s | 8.4% | 7.2% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.3% | 6.8% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.0% | 5.4% | 7.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 35.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 44.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 72.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Europe & Central Asia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Europe & Central Asia was 5.4% 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 Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 2025.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 12th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.