Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — European Union

Unemployment rate in the European Union in 2025 — 5.93%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 2.66 pp.

2025 5.93% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 11.55%1994
Period minimum 5.92%2024

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — European Union, 1991–2025468101219911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 8.59%1992: 9.23%1993: 10.85%1994: 11.55%1995: 11.11%1996: 11.14%1997: 10.95%1998: 10.53%1999: 10.21%2000: 9.7%2001: 9.21%2002: 9.57%2003: 9.71%2004: 9.86%2005: 9.63%2006: 8.69%2007: 7.5%2008: 7.24%2009: 9.21%2010: 9.87%2011: 9.93%2012: 10.88%2013: 11.35%2014: 10.83%2015: 10.02%2016: 9.11%2017: 8.13%2018: 7.24%2019: 6.68%2020: 7.05%2021: 7.03%2022: 6.16%2023: 6.03%2024: 5.92%2025: 5.93%
Change over the period: −2.66 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: European Union

European Union 5.93%
World 4.79%
Unemployment rate — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 5.93 +0 pp
2024 5.92 −0.1 pp
2023 6.03 −0.13 pp
2022 6.16 −0.87 pp
2021 7.03 −0.03 pp
2020 7.05 +0.38 pp
2019 6.68 −0.57 pp
2018 7.24 −0.89 pp
2017 8.13 −0.97 pp
2016 9.11 −0.91 pp
2015 10.02 −0.81 pp
2014 10.83 −0.53 pp
2013 11.35 +0.48 pp
2012 10.88 +0.95 pp
2011 9.93 +0.06 pp
2010 9.87 +0.66 pp
2009 9.21 +1.97 pp
2008 7.24 −0.26 pp
2007 7.5 −1.19 pp
2006 8.69 −0.94 pp
2005 9.63 −0.23 pp
2004 9.86 +0.15 pp
2003 9.71 +0.14 pp
2002 9.57 +0.36 pp
2001 9.21 −0.49 pp
2000 9.7 −0.51 pp
1999 10.21 −0.31 pp
1998 10.53 −0.42 pp
1997 10.95 −0.2 pp
1996 11.14 +0.03 pp
1995 11.11 −0.44 pp
1994 11.55 +0.7 pp
1993 10.85 +1.62 pp
1992 9.23 +0.64 pp
1991 8.59

About the indicator

The share of the labor force that is unemployed, on the ILO definition: a person counts as unemployed if they held no job in the reference period, actively looked for one and were available to start work. People who are not looking for work are not part of the labor force, so in countries with mass withdrawal from the labor force low unemployment does not mean high employment; the employment ratio and labor force participation fill in the rest of the picture.

Important: The data are ILO modeled estimates harmonized to a common definition; they can differ from the national figures of employment services.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.