Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia
South Asia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 4.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia, 1994–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia is 4.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.4% on the previous year and up 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia peaked at 7.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1994.
That places South Asia 27th out of 33 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 2.4% | — |
| 2000 | 2.9% | +20.6% |
| 2005 | 3.9% | +36.2% |
| 2010 | 3.2% | -19.0% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 7.6% | +134.9% |
| 2019 | 6.5% | -14.7% |
| 2020 | 7.8% | +20.7% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | -18.7% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | -24.6% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | -14.7% |
| 2024 | 4.1% | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 4.5% | +9.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 3.4% | 2.9% | 3.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 3.2% | 7.6% | 4 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 4.1% | 7.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 24 Northern Mariana Islands 11.2% compare
- 25 Dominica 11.0% compare
- 26 Kosovo 10.8% compare
- 26 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 10.8% compare
- 28 Bosnia and Herzegovina 10.7% compare
- 29 Nepal 10.7% compare
- 30 Spain 10.5% compare
More work & labour data for South Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in South Asia was 4.5% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1994.
- How does South Asia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- South Asia ranks 27th out of 33 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia 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.