Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force) in Iran
Iran: Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force) was 11.3% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Unemployment with advanced education in Iran, 2005–2024
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total labor force with advanced education.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment with advanced education in Iran is 11.3%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.1% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment with advanced education in Iran peaked at 18.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 11.3%, in 2024.
That places Iran 16th out of 130 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force) in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force with advanced education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 12.1% | — |
| 2006 | 12.7% | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 12.2% | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 12.0% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 14.4% | +20.2% |
| 2010 | 16.4% | +13.7% |
| 2011 | 14.1% | -13.8% |
| 2012 | 13.8% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 11.7% | -15.3% |
| 2014 | 12.3% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 11.7% | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 13.7% | +16.8% |
| 2017 | 13.6% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 18.4% | +35.1% |
| 2019 | 16.9% | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 14.4% | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 13.8% | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 12.9% | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 11.9% | -8.4% |
| 2024 | 11.3% | -5.1% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 11.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.3%, 2.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Iran's 11.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11.2%, 1.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.7% | 12.0% | 14.4% | 5 |
| 2010s | 14.3% | 11.7% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.8% | 11.3% | 14.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More work & labour data for Iran
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 44,188 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 40.34 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,874 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 8.53 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.43 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 57,320 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 20,416 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 36.89 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.89 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.574 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment with advanced education in Iran?
- Unemployment with advanced education in Iran was 11.3% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment with advanced education recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest unemployment with advanced education recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 2024.
- How does Iran rank for unemployment with advanced education?
- Iran ranks 16th out of 130 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment with advanced education rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force with advanced education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of the labor force with an advanced level of education who are unemployed. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).