Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 5.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico, 1971–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico is 5.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is down 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico peaked at 23.5% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2024.
That places Puerto Rico 89th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 11.5% | — |
| 1972 | 11.8% | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 11.6% | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 13.1% | +13.0% |
| 1975 | 19.0% | +44.5% |
| 1976 | 19.7% | +3.6% |
| 1977 | 19.0% | -3.1% |
| 1978 | 16.7% | -12.1% |
| 1979 | 15.4% | -7.7% |
| 1980 | 17.0% | +10.3% |
| 1981 | 18.0% | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 19.9% | +10.5% |
| 1983 | 23.5% | +18.2% |
| 1984 | 21.1% | -10.4% |
| 1985 | 21.8% | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 19.5% | -10.4% |
| 1987 | 17.9% | -8.3% |
| 1988 | 15.8% | -11.9% |
| 1989 | 14.6% | -7.3% |
| 1990 | 15.3% | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 17.1% | +11.9% |
| 1992 | 17.0% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 17.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 14.7% | -13.5% |
| 1995 | 13.9% | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 13.6% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 13.8% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 13.5% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 11.8% | -12.2% |
| 2000 | 10.2% | -14.0% |
| 2001 | 11.5% | +13.0% |
| 2002 | 11.9% | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 11.8% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 10.3% | -12.5% |
| 2005 | 11.3% | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 11.0% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 10.9% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 11.5% | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 15.0% | +30.7% |
| 2010 | 16.0% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 15.8% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 14.5% | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 14.3% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 13.9% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | -14.1% |
| 2016 | 11.8% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 10.8% | -8.5% |
| 2018 | 9.2% | -14.8% |
| 2019 | 8.3% | -9.8% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | +84.8% |
| 2021 | 7.9% | -48.5% |
| 2022 | 6.0% | -24.1% |
| 2023 | 5.9% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 5.6% | -5.1% |
| 2025 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.3% | 11.5% | 19.7% | 9 |
| 1980s | 18.9% | 14.6% | 23.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.8% | 11.8% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.5% | 10.2% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.7% | 8.3% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.7% | 5.6% | 15.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More work & labour data for Puerto Rico
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -2.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -2.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -2.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.5786 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,139 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 142.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 521.69 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 473.93 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 995.62 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Puerto Rico was 5.6% 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 23.5% in 1983.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2024.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Puerto Rico ranks 89th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.