Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 9.8% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
9.8%
Change on year
up 54.9%
World rank
36th
of 187 countries
All-time high
30.9%
in 1999
All-time low
4.7%
in 2011
Years of data
7
1980–2021

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Marshall Islands, 1980–2021

01020301980200020211980: 9.71988: 12.51999: 30.92005: 25.42011: 4.72019: 6.32021: 9.8

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Marshall Islands recorded 9.8% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2021.

The figure is up 54.9% on the previous year and up 107.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Marshall Islands peaked at 30.9% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 2011.

That places Marshall Islands 36th out of 187 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Marshall Islands, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Marshall Islands, 1980 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1980 9.7%
1988 12.5% +28.1%
1999 30.9% +147.9%
2005 25.4% -17.9%
2011 4.7% -81.3%
2019 6.3% +33.9%
2021 9.8% +54.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 11.1% 9.7% 12.5% 2
1990s 30.9% 30.9% 30.9% 1
2000s 25.4% 25.4% 25.4% 1
2010s 5.5% 4.7% 6.3% 2
2020s 9.8% 9.8% 9.8% 1

Countries ranked near Marshall Islands

  1. 33 Bahamas 10.3% compare
  2. 34 New Caledonia 10.2% compare
  3. 35 Ukraine 9.8% compare
  4. 37 Finland 9.7% compare
  5. 38 American Samoa 9.2% compare
  6. 39 Greenland 9.1% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Marshall Islands

All data for Marshall Islands →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Marshall Islands?
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Marshall Islands was 9.8% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Marshall Islands?
The highest recorded value was 30.9% in 1999.
What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Marshall Islands?
The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 2011.
How does Marshall Islands rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Marshall Islands ranks 36th out of 187 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Marshall Islands?
Over the last ten years it is up 107.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Marshall Islands 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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Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Marshall Islands. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/marshall-islands/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 6,054 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.