Unemployment rate (IMF) — all countries

Unemployment rate (IMF) — Northern Europe

Unemployment rate (IMF) in Northern Europe in 2025 — 5.5%. Since 1993, the indicator has fallen by 5.1 pp.

2025 5.5% +0.5 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 10.6%1993
Period minimum 4.4%2022

Trend over time

1993–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate (IMF) — Northern Europe, 1993–202546810121993199720012005200920132017202120251993: 10.6%1994: 9.8%1995: 9%1996: 9%1997: 7.8%1998: 6.9%1999: 6.8%2000: 6.3%2001: 6%2002: 5.9%2003: 5.9%2004: 5.7%2005: 5.5%2006: 5.5%2007: 5.2%2008: 5.6%2009: 8%2010: 8.6%2011: 8.5%2012: 8.3%2013: 7.9%2014: 6.8%2015: 6.1%2016: 5.6%2017: 5.1%2018: 4.7%2019: 4.4%2020: 5.4%2021: 5.3%2022: 4.4%2023: 4.7%2024: 5%2025: 5.5%
Change over the period: −5.1 pp Annual average: -0.16 pp
Unemployment rate (IMF) — Northern Europe, by year Northern Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 5.5 +0.5 pp
2024 5 +0.3 pp
2023 4.7 +0.3 pp
2022 4.4 −1 pp
2021 5.3 −0.1 pp
2020 5.4 +1 pp
2019 4.4 −0.3 pp
2018 4.7 −0.4 pp
2017 5.1 −0.5 pp
2016 5.6 −0.5 pp
2015 6.1 −0.7 pp
2014 6.8 −1.1 pp
2013 7.9 −0.4 pp
2012 8.3 −0.2 pp
2011 8.5 −0.2 pp
2010 8.6 +0.6 pp
2009 8 +2.5 pp
2008 5.6 +0.3 pp
2007 5.2 −0.3 pp
2006 5.5 −0 pp
2005 5.5 −0.2 pp
2004 5.7 −0.1 pp
2003 5.9 −0.1 pp
2002 5.9 −0.1 pp
2001 6 −0.3 pp
2000 6.3 −0.5 pp
1999 6.8 −0.1 pp
1998 6.9 −0.9 pp
1997 7.8 −1.2 pp
1996 9 −0.1 pp
1995 9 −0.8 pp
1994 9.8 −0.8 pp
1993 10.6

About the indicator

The unemployment rate as a percent of the labor force, from the IMF World Economic Outlook database. The series is shorter than the ILO one: the IMF publishes it only for countries with comparable labor market statistics, but in exchange it includes a forecast. For full country coverage there is the unemployment rate based on ILO data.

Source: World Economic Outlook (IMF), license IMF open data.