Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Singapore
Singapore: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
3.3%
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
142nd
of 187 countries
All-time high
6.8%
in 1986
All-time low
2.0%
in 1990
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Singapore, 1970–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Singapore stood at 3.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Singapore peaked at 6.8% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 1990.
That places Singapore 142nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Singapore, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6.1% | — |
| 1971 | 4.8% | -20.8% |
| 1972 | 4.7% | -2.1% |
| 1973 | 4.5% | -4.0% |
| 1974 | 4.0% | -12.1% |
| 1975 | 3.9% | -1.5% |
| 1976 | 4.5% | +14.6% |
| 1977 | 3.9% | -12.1% |
| 1978 | 3.6% | -9.4% |
| 1979 | 3.3% | -7.3% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | -8.0% |
| 1981 | 2.8% | -8.2% |
| 1982 | 2.6% | -8.3% |
| 1983 | 3.2% | +25.5% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | -16.4% |
| 1985 | 4.4% | +64.4% |
| 1986 | 6.8% | +54.8% |
| 1987 | 5.0% | -27.0% |
| 1988 | 3.6% | -27.9% |
| 1989 | 2.4% | -34.7% |
| 1990 | 2.0% | -16.8% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | +11.5% |
| 1992 | 3.1% | +41.7% |
| 1993 | 3.1% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 3.0% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 3.3% | +8.9% |
| 1996 | 3.6% | +8.2% |
| 1997 | 2.5% | -30.0% |
| 1998 | 3.4% | +36.4% |
| 1999 | 4.8% | +42.2% |
| 2000 | 3.7% | -23.7% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | +50.3% |
| 2003 | 5.9% | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 5.8% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | -41.8% |
| 2006 | 4.5% | +31.8% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | -12.9% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | +48.0% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | -29.7% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 3.7% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 3.8% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | +7.9% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | -19.4% |
| 2020 | 5.2% | +67.4% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | -11.3% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | -22.6% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | -4.1% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | -4.0% |
| 2025 | 3.3% | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.3% | 3.3% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.7% | 2.4% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.1% | 2.0% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 3.4% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 3.1% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.9% | 3.3% | 5.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More work & labour data for Singapore
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.967 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.9557 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.9779 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1059 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,575 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 0 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,077 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,086 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 4,163 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, per unit 0 1000 No per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Singapore?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Singapore was 3.3% 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 6.8% in 1986.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 1990.
- How does Singapore rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Singapore ranks 142nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Singapore 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.
Download this data
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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.