Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 8.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), 1991–2021
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) recorded 8.2% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2021.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 11.5% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 6.4%, in 2008.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 4th out of 33 groups with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.0% | — |
| 1993 | 9.7% | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 10.2% | +4.8% |
| 1995 | 11.5% | +13.4% |
| 1996 | 8.1% | -29.8% |
| 1997 | 9.6% | +18.4% |
| 2001 | 10.6% | +10.4% |
| 2002 | 11.3% | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 10.6% | -6.1% |
| 2004 | 10.2% | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 10.3% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | -29.9% |
| 2007 | 6.9% | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 6.4% | -7.3% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 7.3% | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 8.2% | +12.1% |
| 2013 | 7.8% | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 7.8% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 8.2% | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 7.9% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 7.4% | -6.7% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 8.2% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.8% | 8.1% | 11.5% | 6 |
| 2000s | 8.9% | 6.4% | 11.3% | 9 |
| 2010s | 7.7% | 7.0% | 8.2% | 8 |
| 2020s | 8.2% | 8.1% | 8.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 32.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 25.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 17.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 47.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 71.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 13.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 44.9% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) was 8.2% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 11.5% in 1995.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.4% in 2008.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 4th out of 33 groups with data for 2021.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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.