Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union
European Union: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 6.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union, 1990–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union is 6.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 40.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union peaked at 11.7% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 2024.
That places European Union 8th out of 33 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7.5% | — |
| 1991 | 8.6% | +14.7% |
| 1992 | 9.3% | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 11.0% | +18.3% |
| 1994 | 11.7% | +6.2% |
| 1995 | 11.1% | -4.5% |
| 1996 | 11.1% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 10.9% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 10.5% | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 10.2% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 9.7% | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 9.2% | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 9.6% | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 9.7% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 9.9% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 9.6% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 8.7% | -9.8% |
| 2007 | 7.5% | -13.6% |
| 2008 | 7.2% | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 9.2% | +27.2% |
| 2010 | 9.9% | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 9.9% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 10.9% | +9.5% |
| 2013 | 11.4% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 10.8% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 10.0% | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 9.1% | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 8.1% | -10.7% |
| 2018 | 7.2% | -10.9% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | -7.8% |
| 2020 | 7.1% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 7.0% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 6.2% | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 6.0% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 5.9% | -1.4% |
| 2025 | 6.0% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.2% | 7.5% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 7.2% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 6.7% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.4% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in European Union was 6.0% 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 European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 11.7% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 2024.
- How does European Union rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- European Union ranks 8th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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.