How is the unemployment rate calculated?

It is the number of unemployed people divided by the total labour force, expressed as a percentage. The labour force counts only people who are working or actively seeking work, so it excludes students, retirees, and others not looking for a job.

What does ILO-harmonised mean?

The International Labour Organization defines a standard concept of unemployment — without work, available to work, and actively seeking it — so that national figures can be compared. Without harmonisation, countries using different definitions would not be comparable.

Why is unemployment so high in some countries?

Structural factors such as a young and fast-growing labour force, skills mismatches, rigid labour markets, or slow growth can keep unemployment high. South Africa, for example, has had unemployment above 30 percent for years for largely structural reasons.

Does a low rate mean a strong economy?

Usually, but not always. A very low official rate can mask underemployment, low labour-force participation, or large informal sectors where people work without being counted. Read the rate alongside participation and wage data.

How current are these figures?

They are rounded recent estimates and change as new labour surveys are released, often quarterly. Use them for comparison and orientation; consult the ILO or national statistics offices for exact, dated figures.

Unemployment Rate by Country Reference

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Who is out of work, country by country

This reference shows the unemployment rate — the share of the labour force without work but available and seeking it — for countries worldwide, on the ILO-harmonised basis that makes cross-country comparison meaningful. You can search for a country and sort the table to see the full range, from economies near full employment to those with structural unemployment above 30%.

How it works

The rate is unemployed people / labour force x 100. The crucial detail is the denominator: the labour force counts only those working or actively looking for work, so people who are studying, retired, or who have given up looking are excluded. The International Labour Organization sets a common definition — without work, currently available, and actively seeking — so that a figure from one country means the same as another’s. A low rate generally signals a healthy economy, but it can hide underemployment, weak labour-force participation, or a large informal sector where work goes uncounted. That is why analysts read the rate alongside participation rates and wage growth.

Tips and notes

Sort descending to see where structural unemployment bites hardest — South Africa and several Southern European economies lead.
A very low official rate (Thailand, Switzerland) can reflect either genuine full employment or definitional and informal-sector effects, so interpret with care.
These are rounded recent estimates that update with each labour survey. For authoritative, dated figures use ILOSTAT or national statistics agencies.