Unemployment rate (IMF) — all countries

Unemployment rate (IMF) — Southern Europe

Unemployment rate (IMF) in Southern Europe in 2025 — 8.1%. Since 1997, the indicator has fallen by 6.4 pp.

2025 8.1% −0.6 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 19.8%2013
Period minimum 8.1%2025

Trend over time

1997–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate (IMF) — Southern Europe, 1997–2025510152019972000200320062009201220152018202120241997: 14.5%1998: 13.9%1999: 13.2%2000: 12.3%2001: 10.8%2002: 11.1%2003: 11.2%2004: 11.1%2005: 10.5%2006: 9.8%2007: 9.1%2008: 9.8%2009: 13%2010: 14.5%2011: 15.8%2012: 18.5%2013: 19.8%2014: 18.9%2015: 17.4%2016: 15.9%2017: 14.3%2018: 12.8%2019: 11.7%2020: 11.9%2021: 11.8%2022: 10.2%2023: 9.6%2024: 8.7%2025: 8.1%
Change over the period: −6.4 pp Annual average: -0.23 pp
Unemployment rate (IMF) — Southern Europe, by year Southern Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 8.1 −0.6 pp
2024 8.7 −0.9 pp
2023 9.6 −0.6 pp
2022 10.2 −1.6 pp
2021 11.8 −0.2 pp
2020 11.9 +0.2 pp
2019 11.7 −1.1 pp
2018 12.8 −1.4 pp
2017 14.3 −1.6 pp
2016 15.9 −1.5 pp
2015 17.4 −1.5 pp
2014 18.9 −0.9 pp
2013 19.8 +1.2 pp
2012 18.5 +2.7 pp
2011 15.8 +1.3 pp
2010 14.5 +1.5 pp
2009 13 +3.2 pp
2008 9.8 +0.7 pp
2007 9.1 −0.7 pp
2006 9.8 −0.7 pp
2005 10.5 −0.5 pp
2004 11.1 −0.1 pp
2003 11.2 +0.1 pp
2002 11.1 +0.3 pp
2001 10.8 −1.4 pp
2000 12.3 −0.9 pp
1999 13.2 −0.7 pp
1998 13.9 −0.6 pp
1997 14.5

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.