Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — Iran

Unemployment rate in Iran in 2025 — 8.3%. Ranked 133 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 2.8 pp.

2025 8.3% +0.15 pp vs 2024
World rank 133of 182
Period maximum 13.68%2010
Period minimum 8.13%2023

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — Iran, 1991–2025810121419911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 11.1%1992: 10.65%1993: 10.57%1994: 10.46%1995: 9.9%1996: 9.1%1997: 9.68%1998: 10.36%1999: 11.18%2000: 11.7%2001: 12.36%2002: 12.8%2003: 11.53%2004: 10.3%2005: 11.81%2006: 11.52%2007: 10.77%2008: 10.63%2009: 12.11%2010: 13.68%2011: 12.49%2012: 12.28%2013: 10.6%2014: 10.68%2015: 11.17%2016: 12.62%2017: 12.23%2018: 12.2%2019: 10.74%2020: 9.69%2021: 9.28%2022: 9.09%2023: 8.13%2024: 8.15%2025: 8.3%
Change over the period: −2.8 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Iran 8.3%
World 4.79%
Southern Asia computed 4.61%
Unemployment rate — Iran, by year Iran All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 8.3 +0.15 pp
2024 8.15 +0.02 pp
2023 8.13 −0.96 pp
2022 9.09 −0.2 pp
2021 9.28 −0.4 pp
2020 9.69 −1.05 pp
2019 10.74 −1.46 pp
2018 12.2 −0.04 pp
2017 12.23 −0.39 pp
2016 12.62 +1.45 pp
2015 11.17 +0.49 pp
2014 10.68 +0.08 pp
2013 10.6 −1.68 pp
2012 12.28 −0.22 pp
2011 12.49 −1.19 pp
2010 13.68 +1.57 pp
2009 12.11 +1.48 pp
2008 10.63 −0.14 pp
2007 10.77 −0.75 pp
2006 11.52 −0.29 pp
2005 11.81 +1.51 pp
2004 10.3 −1.23 pp
2003 11.53 −1.27 pp
2002 12.8 +0.44 pp
2001 12.36 +0.66 pp
2000 11.7 +0.52 pp
1999 11.18 +0.82 pp
1998 10.36 +0.68 pp
1997 9.68 +0.58 pp
1996 9.1 −0.8 pp
1995 9.9 −0.55 pp
1994 10.46 −0.12 pp
1993 10.57 −0.08 pp
1992 10.65 −0.45 pp
1991 11.1

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.