Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — Southern Europe

Unemployment rate in Southern Europe in 2025 — 8.11%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 3.53 pp.

2025 8.11% −0.52 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 19.5%2013
Period minimum 8.11%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — Southern Europe, 1991–2025510152019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 11.64%1992: 12.51%1993: 14.2%1994: 15.15%1995: 14.93%1996: 14.94%1997: 14.63%1998: 14.21%1999: 13.21%2000: 12.28%2001: 10.74%2002: 10.91%2003: 11.04%2004: 10.83%2005: 10.33%2006: 9.59%2007: 8.96%2008: 9.62%2009: 12.69%2010: 14.25%2011: 15.52%2012: 18.27%2013: 19.5%2014: 18.72%2015: 17.24%2016: 15.79%2017: 14.16%2018: 12.72%2019: 11.62%2020: 11.79%2021: 11.61%2022: 10.07%2023: 9.45%2024: 8.63%2025: 8.11%
Change over the period: −3.53 pp Annual average: -0.1 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Southern Europe 8.11%
World 4.79%
Unemployment rate — Southern Europe, by year Southern Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 8.11 −0.52 pp
2024 8.63 −0.82 pp
2023 9.45 −0.62 pp
2022 10.07 −1.54 pp
2021 11.61 −0.18 pp
2020 11.79 +0.16 pp
2019 11.62 −1.09 pp
2018 12.72 −1.44 pp
2017 14.16 −1.64 pp
2016 15.79 −1.44 pp
2015 17.24 −1.48 pp
2014 18.72 −0.78 pp
2013 19.5 +1.22 pp
2012 18.27 +2.75 pp
2011 15.52 +1.27 pp
2010 14.25 +1.56 pp
2009 12.69 +3.07 pp
2008 9.62 +0.66 pp
2007 8.96 −0.62 pp
2006 9.59 −0.74 pp
2005 10.33 −0.5 pp
2004 10.83 −0.21 pp
2003 11.04 +0.13 pp
2002 10.91 +0.17 pp
2001 10.74 −1.54 pp
2000 12.28 −0.93 pp
1999 13.21 −1 pp
1998 14.21 −0.43 pp
1997 14.63 −0.3 pp
1996 14.94 +0.01 pp
1995 14.93 −0.22 pp
1994 15.15 +0.95 pp
1993 14.2 +1.68 pp
1992 12.51 +0.87 pp
1991 11.64

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.