Download data 
| Table 5f. Adult unemployment |
Last update: June 2009 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Afghanistan |
2005 |
|
|
9 |
|
8 |
|
HS |
|
| Albania |
2001 |
|
|
28 |
|
19 |
|
PC |
|
| Algeria |
2004 |
|
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
HS |
|
| American Samoa |
2000 |
|
a |
6 |
|
5 |
|
PC |
|
| Anguilla |
2002 |
|
b |
10 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Antigua and Barbuda |
2001 |
|
|
9 |
|
8 |
|
PC |
|
| Argentina |
2006 |
|
c,d |
12 |
|
8 |
|
HS |
|
| Armenia |
2004 |
|
|
14 |
|
6 |
|
OE |
|
| Aruba |
1997 |
|
|
8 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Australia |
2007 |
|
b,e |
5 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Austria |
2007 |
|
|
5 |
|
4 |
|
MC |
|
| Azerbaijan |
1999 |
|
a |
19 |
|
14 |
|
PC |
|
| Bahamas |
2007 |
|
b |
9 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Bahrain |
2001 |
|
|
10 |
|
4 |
|
PC |
|
| Bangladesh |
2005 |
|
b |
7 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Barbados |
2004 |
|
b |
11 |
|
9 |
|
HS |
|
| Belgium |
2007 |
|
|
9 |
|
7 |
|
ELFS |
|
| Belize |
2005 |
|
f |
17 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Benin |
2002 |
|
|
0 |
|
1 |
|
PC |
|
| Bermuda |
2000 |
|
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
PC |
|
| Bhutan |
2005 |
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
PC |
|
| Bolivia |
2002 |
|
|
7 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
2006 |
|
|
35 |
|
29 |
|
HS |
|
| Botswana |
2006 |
|
b,g |
20 |
|
15 |
|
HS |
|
| Brazil |
2004 |
|
|
12 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| British Virgin Islands |
1991 |
|
|
3 |
|
4 |
|
PC |
|
| Brunei Darussalam |
1991 |
|
|
7 |
|
4 |
|
PC |
|
| Bulgaria |
2006 |
|
|
9 |
|
9 |
|
HS |
|
| Burkina Faso |
1998 |
|
b,c |
3 |
|
2 |
|
HS |
|
| Burundi |
1990 |
|
|
0 |
|
1 |
|
PC |
|
| Cambodia |
2001 |
|
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
HS |
|
| Cameroon |
2001 |
|
|
7 |
|
8 |
|
HS |
|
| Canada |
2007 |
|
b,h |
6 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Cape Verde |
1990 |
|
|
23 |
|
23 |
|
PC |
|
| Cayman Islands |
2007 |
|
|
4 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Chad |
1993 |
|
i |
0 |
|
1 |
|
PC |
|
| Chile |
2006 |
|
|
7 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| China, Hong Kong SAR |
2007 |
|
b,j |
3 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| China, Macao SAR |
2007 |
|
b,f |
3 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Colombia |
2007 |
|
b,c |
14 |
|
9 |
|
HS |
|
| Comoros |
1991 |
|
g |
17 |
|
21 |
|
PC |
|
| Cook Islands |
1991 |
|
|
10 |
|
6 |
|
PC |
|
| Costa Rica |
2007 |
|
g |
7 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Croatia |
2007 |
|
l |
11 |
|
8 |
|
HS |
|
| Cuba |
2006 |
|
hh |
2 |
|
2 |
|
HS |
|
| Cyprus |
2006 |
|
|
5 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Czech Republic |
2007 |
|
|
7 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Denmark |
2007 |
|
|
4 |
|
3 |
|
ELFS |
|
| Djibouti |
1991 |
|
|
47 |
|
42 |
|
HS |
|
| Dominica |
2001 |
|
|
10 |
|
12 |
|
PC |
|
| Dominican Republic |
2005 |
|
c |
29 |
|
11 |
|
HS |
|
| Ecuador |
2005 |
|
c,d |
11 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Egypt |
2005 |
|
b,i |
25 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| El Salvador |
2006 |
|
c |
4 |
|
8 |
|
HS |
|
| Equatorial Guinea |
1983 |
|
o |
19 |
|
27 |
|
PC |
|
| Estonia |
2007 |
|
p,l |
4 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Ethiopia |
2005 |
|
b |
8 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Faeroe Islands |
2005 |
|
a |
4 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Fiji |
2005 |
|
q |
6 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Finland |
2007 |
|
|
7 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| France |
2007 |
|
r |
9 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| French Guiana |
2006 |
|
|
35 |
|
24 |
|
HS |
|
| Gabon |
1993 |
|
|
16 |
|
19 |
|
PC |
|
| Georgia |
2007 |
|
s |
13 |
|
14 |
|
HS |
|
| Germany |
2007 |
|
|
9 |
|
9 |
|
MC |
|
| Ghana |
1999 |
|
|
11 |
|
9 |
|
HS |
|
| Greece |
2007 |
|
|
13 |
|
5 |
|
ELFS |
|
| Greenland |
2006 |
|
|
7 |
|
10 |
|
OE |
|
| Grenada |
1998 |
|
l |
22 |
|
11 |
|
HS |
|
| Guadeloupe |
2006 |
|
|
31 |
|
24 |
|
HS |
|
| Guam |
2000 |
|
b |
12 |
|
11 |
|
PC |
|
| Guatemala |
2004 |
|
b,c |
4 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Guyana |
2002 |
|
|
15 |
|
10 |
|
PC |
|
| Haiti |
1999 |
|
|
8 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Honduras |
2005 |
|
b,t |
6 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Hungary |
2007 |
|
|
8 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Iceland |
2007 |
|
a |
2 |
|
2 |
|
HS |
|
| India |
2004 |
|
u |
5 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Indonesia |
2007 |
|
|
11 |
|
8 |
|
HS |
|
| Iran, Islamic Republic |
2007 |
|
c |
16 |
|
9 |
|
HS |
|
| Iraq |
2004 |
|
|
13 |
|
10 |
|
HS |
|
| Ireland |
2007 |
|
|
4 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Isle of Man |
2006 |
|
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
PC |
|
| Israel |
2007 |
|
b |
8 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Italy |
2007 |
|
|
8 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Jamaica |
2007 |
|
b,f |
14 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Japan |
2007 |
|
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Jordan |
2004 |
|
|
16 |
|
12 |
|
HS |
|
| Kazakhstan |
2004 |
|
|
10 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Kyrgyzstan |
2006 |
|
|
9 |
|
8 |
|
HS |
|
| Lao People's Democratic Republic |
2005 |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
PC |
|
| Latvia |
2007 |
|
p,l |
5 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Lesotho |
1999 |
|
|
33 |
|
21 |
|
HS |
|
| Liberia |
2007 |
|
|
4 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Lithuania |
2007 |
|
l |
4 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Luxembourg |
2007 |
|
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
ELFS |
|
| Madagascar |
2005 |
|
b |
3 |
|
2 |
|
HS |
|
| Malawi |
2004 |
|
|
10 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Malaysia |
2007 |
|
b,i |
3 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Maldives |
2006 |
|
l |
24 |
|
8 |
|
PC |
|
| Mali |
2004 |
|
|
11 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Malta |
2007 |
|
|
7 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Marshall Islands |
1999 |
|
|
37 |
|
28 |
|
PC |
|
| Martinique |
2006 |
|
|
27 |
|
23 |
|
HS |
|
| Mauritania |
2000 |
|
c |
41 |
|
9 |
|
OE |
|
| Mauritius |
2007 |
|
a,b |
14 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Mexico |
2007 |
|
|
4 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Monaco |
2000 |
|
v |
5 |
|
3 |
|
PC |
|
| Mongolia |
2003 |
|
b |
14 |
|
14 |
|
HS |
|
| Montenegro |
2005 |
|
i |
36 |
|
26 |
|
HS |
|
| Morocco |
2007 |
|
|
10 |
|
10 |
|
HS |
|
| Mozambique |
1997 |
|
w |
1 |
|
3 |
|
PC |
|
| Myanmar |
1990 |
|
c |
9 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Namibia |
2004 |
|
|
25 |
|
19 |
|
HS |
|
| Nepal |
2001 |
|
c |
11 |
|
7 |
|
PC |
|
| Netherlands |
2007 |
|
|
4 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Netherlands Antilles |
2007 |
|
|
14 |
|
10 |
|
HS |
|
| New Caledonia |
1996 |
|
f |
22 |
|
16 |
|
PC |
|
| New Zealand |
2007 |
|
b,x |
4 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Nicaragua |
2006 |
|
c |
5 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Niger |
2001 |
|
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
PC |
|
| Nigeria |
1986 |
|
b |
4 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Northern Mariana Islands |
2003 |
|
a |
4 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Norway |
2007 |
|
a |
2 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Occupied Palestinian Territory |
2007 |
|
|
19 |
|
22 |
|
HS |
|
| Pakistan |
2007 |
|
b,c |
8 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Panama |
2007 |
|
|
9 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Papua New Guinea |
2000 |
|
c |
1 |
|
4 |
|
PC |
|
| Paraguay |
2007 |
|
b |
8 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Peru |
2007 |
|
b,l |
8 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Philippines |
2007 |
|
s |
6 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Poland |
2007 |
|
|
10 |
|
9 |
|
HS |
|
| Portugal |
2007 |
|
|
10 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Puerto Rico |
2007 |
|
a,b |
10 |
|
12 |
|
HS |
|
| Qatar |
2001 |
|
|
13 |
|
2 |
|
HS |
|
| Republic of Korea |
2007 |
|
b |
3 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Republic of Moldova |
2007 |
|
|
4 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Reunion |
2006 |
|
|
30 |
|
28 |
|
HS |
|
| Romania |
2007 |
|
|
5 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Russian Federation |
2007 |
|
z |
6 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Rwanda |
1996 |
|
i |
0 |
|
1 |
|
HS |
|
| Saint Lucia |
2004 |
|
|
25 |
|
17 |
|
HS |
|
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
1991 |
|
|
22 |
|
18 |
|
PC |
|
| Samoa |
2001 |
|
|
6 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Sao Tome and Principe |
2006 |
|
|
25 |
|
11 |
|
OE |
|
| Saudi Arabia |
2007 |
|
|
13 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Serbia |
2007 |
|
|
21 |
|
16 |
|
HS |
|
| Seychelles |
2005 |
|
b |
5 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Sierra Leone |
2004 |
|
|
2 |
|
5 |
|
PC |
|
| Singapore |
2007 |
|
bb |
4 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Slovakia |
2007 |
|
|
13 |
|
10 |
|
HS |
|
| Slovenia |
2007 |
|
e,l |
6 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Solomon Islands |
1999 |
|
|
34 |
|
31 |
|
PC |
|
| South Africa |
2007 |
|
|
27 |
|
20 |
|
HS |
|
| Spain |
2007 |
|
a |
11 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Sri Lanka |
2007 |
|
b,cc |
9 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| St. Helena |
1998 |
|
dd |
15 |
|
20 |
|
PC |
|
| Suriname |
1999 |
|
|
20 |
|
10 |
|
HS |
|
| Swaziland |
1997 |
|
|
26 |
|
20 |
|
PC |
|
| Sweden |
2007 |
|
a |
6 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| Switzerland |
2007 |
|
|
5 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Syrian Arab Republic |
2003 |
|
b |
21 |
|
8 |
|
HS |
|
| TFYR of Macedonia |
2007 |
|
b |
36 |
|
35 |
|
HS |
|
| Thailand |
2007 |
|
b |
1 |
|
1 |
|
HS |
|
| Tonga |
2003 |
|
b |
7 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Trinidad and Tobago |
2007 |
|
|
10 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| Tunisia |
2005 |
|
|
17 |
|
13 |
|
HS |
|
| Turkey |
2007 |
|
b |
10 |
|
10 |
|
HS |
|
| Uganda |
2003 |
|
c |
4 |
|
3 |
|
HS |
|
| Ukraine |
2006 |
|
q |
7 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| United Arab Emirates |
2005 |
|
o |
7 |
|
3 |
|
PC |
|
| United Kingdom |
2007 |
|
a |
5 |
|
6 |
|
HS |
|
| United Republic of Tanzania |
2001 |
|
c |
6 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
| United States |
2007 |
|
a,b,ff |
5 |
|
5 |
|
HS |
|
| Uruguay |
2007 |
|
f,l |
12 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Venezuela |
2007 |
|
b |
8 |
|
7 |
|
HS |
|
| Viet Nam |
2004 |
|
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
HS |
|
| Yemen |
1999 |
|
|
8 |
|
13 |
|
HS |
|
| Zambia |
2000 |
|
g,gg |
11 |
|
14 |
|
PC |
|
| Zimbabwe |
2004 |
|
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
HS |
|
|
Sources:
International Labour Office, Table 8a. Unemployment (LFS), published in Key Indicators of the Labour Market (KILM). Fifth Edition,
CD-ROM
version (ISBN 978-92-2-020137-4). Also available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/strat/kilm/ (accessed June 2009).
| ELFS |
European Labour Force Survey (Eurostat) |
| HS |
Household survey. |
| MC |
Micro-census. |
| PC |
Population census. |
| OE |
Official estimate. |
Footnotes:
| a |
Age group 16+ years. |
| b |
Refers to civilian labour force only. |
| c |
Age group 10+ years. |
| d |
Geographic limitation: 31 urban agglomerations. |
| e |
Geographic limitation: Excluding Jervis Bay Territory. |
| f |
Age group 14+ years. |
| g |
Age group 12+ years. |
| h |
Geographic limitation: Excluding persons living in the Yukon, in Nunavut and in the North West Territories. |
| i |
Age group 15-64 years. |
| j |
Coverage limitation: Excluding marine and institutional populations. |
| k |
Geographic limitation: Urban areas. |
| l |
Coverage limitation: Excluding conscripts. |
| m |
Geographic limitation: Government-controlled areas. |
| n |
Age group 17-60 years. |
| o |
Age group 6+ years. |
| p |
Age group 15-74 years. |
| q |
Age group 15-55 years. |
| r |
Geographic limitation: Mainland France (excluding territories). |
| s |
Coverage limitation: Excluding regular military living in barracks. |
| t |
Geographic limitation: Excluding the provinces of Gracias a Dios and Islas de la Bahía. |
| u |
Geographic limitation: Excluding Leh and Kargil of Jammu and Kashmi districts, some villages in Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. |
| v |
Age group 17+ years. |
| w |
Age group 7+ years. |
| x |
Geographic limitation: Excluding Chathams, Antarctic Territory and other minor offshore islands. |
| y |
Geographic limitation: Metropolitan Lima. |
| z |
Age group 15-72 years. |
| aa |
Geographic limitation: Excluding Kosovo and Metohia. |
| bb |
Coverage limitation: Data refer to permanent residents. |
| cc |
Geographic limitation: Excluding the Northern and Eastern provinces. |
| dd |
Age group 15-69 years. |
| ee |
Age group 15-70 years. |
| ff |
Geographic limitation: Excluding Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa. |
| gg |
Coverage limitation: Data refer to the usually active population. |
| hh |
Data for male refers to ages 17-60 and females to ages 17-55. |
Top
The adult unemployment rate refers to the proportion of the adult (aged 15 years and older) labour force that is unemployed, unless otherwise specified. The unemployed are persons who are currently without work, who are currently available for work, and who are seeking or have sought work recently. The base for these statistics is the labour force (that is, the economically active portion of the population), not the total population.
The International Conference of Labour Statisticians adopted the following definition of the unemployed as an international recommendation in 1982: All persons who during the reference period were: (1) "without work", that is, were not in paid employment or self-employment as specified by the international definition of employment; (2) "currently available for work", that is, were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; or (3) "seeking work", that is, had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment.
National definitions of unemployment may differ from the recommended international standard definition. The national definitions used vary from one country to another as regards inter alia age limits, reference periods, criteria for seeking work, treatment of persons temporarily laid off and of persons seeking work for the first time. Inter-country comparisons are further hampered by the variety of types of sources used to obtain information on unemployment and the differences in the scope and coverage of such sources.
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