Unemployment with basic education in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Unemployment with basic education was 7.8% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Unemployment with basic education in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 2011–2021
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total labor force with basic education.
Analysis
In 2021, unemployment with basic education in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan stood at 7.8%.
That represents a change of up 5.2% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment with basic education in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 10.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 2019.
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 14th of 20 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment with basic education in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force with basic education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 9.3% | — |
| 2012 | 8.6% | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 10.4% | +20.8% |
| 2019 | 6.9% | -33.7% |
| 2020 | 7.4% | +8.2% |
| 2021 | 7.8% | +5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8.8% | 6.9% | 10.4% | 4 |
| 2020s | 7.6% | 7.4% | 7.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 47.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 14.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 32.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 21.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 29.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 73.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 50.2% (2025)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment with basic education in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Unemployment with basic education in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 7.8% in 2021, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment with basic education recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 10.4% in 2014.
- What is the lowest unemployment with basic education recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 2019.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for unemployment with basic education?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 14th out of 20 groups with data for 2021.
- Is unemployment with basic education rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with basic education (% of total labor force with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).