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

Suriname: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 7.9% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
7.9%
Change on year
up 9.6%
World rank
55th
of 187 countries
All-time high
19.5%
in 1987
All-time low
6.6%
in 2013
Years of data
21
1986–2016

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Suriname, 1986–2016

51015201986200120161986: 16.41987: 19.51989: 15.51990: 15.71992: 17.31993: 15.61994: 12.61995: 8.41996: 111997: 10.61998: 10.61999: 13.82004: 9.52009: 8.72010: 7.22011: 7.52012: 8.12013: 6.62014: 6.92015: 7.22016: 7.9

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

Analysis

Suriname recorded 7.9% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2016.

That represents a change of up 9.6% on the previous year and down 16.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Suriname peaked at 19.5% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 2013.

Suriname ranks 55th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Suriname, 1986 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1986 16.4%
1987 19.5% +19.3%
1989 15.5% -20.6%
1990 15.7% +0.9%
1992 17.3% +10.4%
1993 15.6% -9.5%
1994 12.6% -19.2%
1995 8.4% -33.6%
1996 11.0% +31.3%
1997 10.6% -4.1%
1998 10.6% +0.6%
1999 13.8% +29.4%
2004 9.5% -31.0%
2009 8.7% -8.2%
2010 7.2% -17.9%
2011 7.5% +5.5%
2012 8.1% +7.4%
2013 6.6% -18.5%
2014 6.9% +5.2%
2015 7.2% +4.0%
2016 7.9% +9.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 17.1% 15.5% 19.5% 3
1990s 12.8% 8.4% 17.3% 9
2000s 9.1% 8.7% 9.5% 2
2010s 7.4% 6.6% 8.1% 7

Countries ranked near Suriname

  1. 52 Armenia 8.3% compare
  2. 53 Uruguay 8.2% compare
  3. 54 Georgia 8.0% compare
  4. 56 France 7.7% compare
  5. 57 Saint Lucia 7.7% compare
  6. 58 Iran, Islamic Republic of 7.6% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Suriname

All data for Suriname →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Suriname?
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Suriname was 7.9% in 2016, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Suriname?
The highest recorded value was 19.5% in 1987.
What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Suriname?
The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 2013.
How does Suriname rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Suriname ranks 55th out of 187 countries with data for 2016.
Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Suriname?
Over the last ten years it is down 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Suriname 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 Suriname. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/suriname/

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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.