Unemployment rate (IMF) — all countries

Unemployment rate (IMF) — South America

Unemployment rate (IMF) in South America in 2025 — 6.3%. Since 1994, the indicator has fallen by 1 pp.

2025 6.3% −0.7 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 12.7%2020
Period minimum 6.3%2025

Trend over time

1994–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate (IMF) — South America, 1994–2025681012141994199820022006201020142018202220251994: 7.3%1995: 8.3%1996: 9.3%1997: 9.6%1998: 10.1%1999: 11.9%2000: 11.4%2001: 12%2002: 12.5%2003: 12.3%2004: 11%2005: 10.6%2006: 9.7%2007: 9%2008: 8.3%2009: 9.2%2010: 8.1%2011: 7.6%2012: 7.1%2013: 7%2014: 6.9%2015: 8.1%2016: 10.5%2017: 11.5%2018: 11.8%2019: 10.1%2020: 12.7%2021: 11.3%2022: 8.5%2023: 7.6%2024: 7%2025: 6.3%
Change over the period: −1 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp
Unemployment rate (IMF) — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 6.3 −0.7 pp
2024 7 −0.6 pp
2023 7.6 −0.9 pp
2022 8.5 −2.8 pp
2021 11.3 −1.4 pp
2020 12.7 +2.6 pp
2019 10.1 −1.7 pp
2018 11.8 +0.3 pp
2017 11.5 +1 pp
2016 10.5 +2.4 pp
2015 8.1 +1.2 pp
2014 6.9 −0.1 pp
2013 7 −0.1 pp
2012 7.1 −0.5 pp
2011 7.6 −0.5 pp
2010 8.1 −1 pp
2009 9.2 +0.9 pp
2008 8.3 −0.7 pp
2007 9 −0.6 pp
2006 9.7 −0.9 pp
2005 10.6 −0.4 pp
2004 11 −1.3 pp
2003 12.3 −0.2 pp
2002 12.5 +0.5 pp
2001 12 +0.6 pp
2000 11.4 −0.6 pp
1999 11.9 +1.8 pp
1998 10.1 +0.5 pp
1997 9.6 +0.3 pp
1996 9.3 +1 pp
1995 8.3 +0.9 pp
1994 7.3

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.