Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Nicaragua

Nicaragua: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 5.2% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
5.2%
Change on year
up 57.6%
World rank
98th
of 187 countries
All-time high
10.4%
in 1996
All-time low
3.2%
in 1985
Years of data
25
1985–2018

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Nicaragua, 1985–2018

468101985200120181985: 3.21986: 4.71987: 5.81988: 61989: 8.71990: 101996: 10.41998: 7.51999: 4.82001: 4.12003: 7.62004: 6.42005: 5.42006: 5.32007: 4.92008: 6.22009: 8.22010: 7.82012: 5.22013: 5.32014: 4.52015: 4.72016: 3.92017: 3.32018: 5.2

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

Analysis

In 2018, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Nicaragua stood at 5.2%.

The figure is up 57.6% on the previous year and down 16.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Nicaragua peaked at 10.4% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 1985.

Nicaragua ranks 98th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Nicaragua, 1985 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1985 3.2%
1986 4.7% +46.9%
1987 5.8% +23.4%
1988 6.0% +3.4%
1989 8.7% +44.3%
1990 10.0% +15.5%
1996 10.4% +3.7%
1998 7.5% -27.6%
1999 4.8% -36.7%
2001 4.1% -13.3%
2003 7.6% +84.3%
2004 6.4% -15.6%
2005 5.4% -16.2%
2006 5.3% -1.1%
2007 4.9% -7.9%
2008 6.2% +26.8%
2009 8.2% +31.6%
2010 7.8% -4.0%
2012 5.2% -33.5%
2013 5.3% +1.3%
2014 4.5% -14.3%
2015 4.7% +4.0%
2016 3.9% -17.0%
2017 3.3% -15.4%
2018 5.2% +57.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 5.7% 3.2% 8.7% 5
1990s 8.2% 4.8% 10.4% 4
2000s 6.0% 4.1% 8.2% 8
2010s 5.0% 3.3% 7.8% 8

Countries ranked near Nicaragua

  1. 95 Uzbekistan 5.3% compare
  2. 96 New Zealand 5.3% compare
  3. 97 Mauritius 5.2% compare
  4. 99 Dominican Republic 5.2% compare
  5. 100 Naoero 5.1% compare
  6. 101 Samoa 5.0% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Nicaragua

All data for Nicaragua →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Nicaragua?
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Nicaragua was 5.2% in 2018, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Nicaragua?
The highest recorded value was 10.4% in 1996.
What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Nicaragua?
The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 1985.
How does Nicaragua rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Nicaragua ranks 98th out of 187 countries with data for 2018.
Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Nicaragua?
Over the last ten years it is down 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/nicaragua/

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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.