Social indicators

Indicators on unemployment
Last update: December 2008
Afghanistan 2005
8
8
 
9
 
HS
 
Albania 2001
23
19
 
28
 
PC
 
Algeria 2004    
18
18
 
18
 
HS
 
American Samoa
2000   a
5
5
 
6
 
PC
 
Anguilla 2002   b
8
6
 
10
 
HS
 
Antigua and Barbuda 2001
8
8
 
9
 
PC
 
Argentina 2006   c,d
9
8
 
12
 
HS
 
Armenia 2004
10
6
 
14
 
OE
 
Aruba 1997
8
7
 
8
 
HS
 
Australia 2007   b,e
4
4
 
5
 
HS
 
Austria 2007
4
4
 
5
 
MC
 
Azerbaijan 1999   a
16
14
 
19
 
PC
 
Bahamas 2007   b
8
7
 
9
 
HS
 
Bahrain 2001
6
4
 
10
 
PC
 
Bangladesh 2005   b
4
3
 
7
 
HS
 
Barbados 2004   b
10
9
 
11
 
HS
 
Belgium 2007
8
7
 
9
 
ELFS
 
Belize 2005   f
11
7
 
17
 
HS
 
Benin 2002
1
1
 
0
 
PC
 
Bermuda 2000
3
3
 
2
 
PC
 
Bhutan 2005
3
3
 
3
 
PC
 
Bolivia 2002
5
4
 
7
 
HS
 
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006
31
29
 
35
 
HS
 
Botswana 2006   b,g
18
15
 
20
 
HS
 
Brazil 2004
9
7
 
12
 
HS
 
British Virgin Islands 1991
4
4
 
3
 
PC
 
Brunei Darussalam 1991
5
4
 
7
 
PC
 
Bulgaria 2006
9
9
 
9
 
HS
 
Burkina Faso 1998   b,c
2
2
 
3
 
HS
 
Burundi 1990
0
1
 
0
 
PC
 
Cambodia 2001
2
1
 
2
 
HS
 
Cameroon 2001
7
8
 
7
 
HS
 
Canada 2007   b,h
6
6
 
6
 
HS
 
Cape Verde 1990
23
23
 
23
 
PC
 
Cayman Islands 2007
4
3
 
4
 
HS
 
Chad 1993   i
1
1
 
0
 
PC
 
Chile 2006   l
6
5
 
7
 
HS
 
China 2005
4
 
 
HS
 
China, Hong Kong SAR 2007   b,j
4
5
 
3
 
HS
 
China, Macao SAR 2007   b,f
3
3
 
3
 
HS
 
Colombia 2007   b,c
11
9
 
14
 
HS
 
Comoros 1991   g
20
21
 
17
 
PC
 
Cook Islands 1991
7
6
 
10
 
PC
 
Costa Rica 2007   g
5
3
 
7
 
HS
 
Croatia 2007   l
10
8
 
11
 
HS
 
Cuba 2006   hh
2
2
 
2
 
HS
 
Cyprus 2007   l,m
5
4
 
7
 
HS
 
Czech Republic 2007
5
4
 
7
 
HS
 
Denmark 2007
4
3
 
4
 
ELFS
 
Djibouti 1991
44
42
 
47
 
HS
 
Dominica 2001
11
12
 
10
 
PC
 
Dominican Republic 2005   c
18
11
 
29
 
HS
 
Ecuador 2005   c,d
8
6
 
11
 
HS
 
Egypt 2005   b,i
11
7
 
25
 
HS
 
El Salvador 2006   c
7
8
 
4
 
HS
 
Equatorial Guinea 1983   o
24
27
 
19
 
PC
 
Estonia 2007   p,l
5
5
 
4
 
HS
 
Ethiopia 2005   b
5
3
 
8
 
HS
 
Faeroe Islands 2005   a
3
3
 
4
 
HS
 
Fiji 2005   q
5
4
 
6
 
HS
 
Finland 2007
7
6
 
7
 
HS
 
France 2007   r
8
7
 
9
 
HS
 
French Guiana 2006
29
24
 
35
 
HS
 
Gabon 1993
18
19
 
16
 
PC
 
Georgia 2007   s
13
14
 
13
 
HS
 
Germany 2007
9
9
 
9
 
MC
 
Ghana 1999
10
9
 
11
 
HS
 
Greece 2007
8
5
 
13
 
ELFS
 
Greenland 2006
8
10
 
7
 
OE
 
Grenada 1998   l
15
11
 
22
 
HS
 
Guadeloupe 2006
27
24
 
31
 
HS
 
Guam 2000   b
11
11
 
12
 
PC
 
Guatemala 2004   b,c
3
3
 
4
 
HS
 
Guyana 2002
12
10
 
15
 
PC
 
Haiti 1999
7
6
 
8
 
HS
 
Honduras 2005   b,t
4
3
 
6
 
HS
 
Hungary 2007
7
7
 
8
 
HS
 
Iceland 2007   a
2
2
 
2
 
HS
 
India 2004   u
5
5
 
5
 
HS
 
Indonesia 2007
9
8
 
11
 
HS
 
Iran, Islamic Republic 2007   c
11
9
 
16
 
HS
 
Iraq 2004
11
10
 
13
 
HS
 
Ireland 2007
5
5
 
4
 
HS
 
Isle of Man 2006
2
3
 
2
 
PC
 
Israel 2007   b
7
7
 
8
 
HS
 
Italy 2007
6
5
 
8
 
HS
 
Jamaica 2007   b,f
9
5
 
14
 
HS
 
Japan 2007
4
4
 
4
 
HS
 
Jordan 2004
12
12
 
16
 
HS
 
Kazakhstan 2004
8
7
 
10
 
HS
 
Kyrgyzstan 2006
8
8
 
9
 
HS
 
Lao People's Democratic Republic 2005
1
1
 
1
 
PC
 
Latvia 2007   p,l
6
6
 
5
 
HS
 
Lesotho 1999
27
21
 
33
 
HS
 
Liberia 2007
6
7
 
4
 
HS
 
Lithuania 2007   l
4
4
 
4
 
HS
 
Luxembourg 2007
4
4
 
4
 
ELFS
 
Madagascar 2005   b
3
2
 
3
 
HS
 
Malawi 2004
8
5
 
10
 
HS
 
Malaysia 2007   b,i
3
3
 
3
 
HS
 
Maldives 2006   l
14
8
 
24
 
PC
 
Mali 2004
9
7
 
11
 
HS
 
Malta 2007
6
5
 
7
 
HS
 
Marshall Islands 1999
31
28
 
37
 
PC
 
Martinique 2006
25
23
 
27
 
HS
 
Mauritania 2000   c
21
9
 
41
 
OE
 
Mauritius 2007   a,b
9
5
 
14
 
HS
 
Mexico 2007
3
3
 
4
 
HS
 
Monaco 2000   v
4
3
 
5
 
PC
 
Mongolia 2003   b
14
14
 
14
 
HS
 
Montenegro 2005   i
30
26
 
36
 
HS
 
Morocco 2007
10
10
 
10
 
HS
 
Mozambique 1997   w
2
3
 
1
 
PC
 
Myanmar 1990   c
6
5
 
9
 
HS
 
Namibia 2004
22
19
 
25
 
HS
 
Nepal 2001   c
9
7
 
11
 
PC
 
Netherlands 2007
4
3
 
4
 
HS
 
Netherlands Antilles 2007
12
10
 
14
 
HS
 
New Caledonia 1996   f
19
16
 
22
 
PC
 
New Zealand 2007   b,x
4
3
 
4
 
HS
 
Nicaragua 2006   c
5
5
 
5
 
HS
 
Niger 2001
1
2
 
1
 
PC
 
Nigeria 1986   b
4
4
 
4
 
HS
 
Northern Mariana Islands 2003   a
5
5
 
4
 
HS
 
Norway 2007   a
2
3
 
2
 
HS
 
Occupied Palestinian Territory 2007
22
22
 
19
 
HS
 
Pakistan 2007   b,c
5
5
 
8
 
HS
 
Panama 2007
7
5
 
9
 
HS
 
Papua New Guinea 2000   c
3
4
 
1
 
PC
 
Paraguay 2007   b
6
4
 
8
 
HS
 
Peru 2007   b,l
7
6
 
8
 
HS
 
Philippines 2007   s
6
6
 
6
 
HS
 
Poland 2007
10
9
 
10
 
HS
 
Portugal 2007
8
7
 
10
 
HS
 
Puerto Rico 2007   a,b
11
12
 
10
 
HS
 
Qatar 2001
4
2
 
13
 
HS
 
Republic of Korea 2007   b
3
4
 
3
 
HS
 
Republic of Moldova 2007
5
6
 
4
 
HS
 
Reunion 2006
29
28
 
30
 
HS
 
Romania 2007
6
7
 
5
 
HS
 
Russian Federation 2007   z
6
6
 
6
 
HS
 
Rwanda 1996   i
1
1
 
0
 
HS
 
Saint Lucia 2004
21
17
 
25
 
HS
 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1991
20
18
 
22
 
PC
 
Samoa 2001
5
4
 
6
 
HS
 
Sao Tome and Principe 2006
17
11
 
25
 
OE
 
Saudi Arabia 2007
6
4
 
13
 
HS
 
Serbia 2007
18
16
 
21
 
HS
 
Seychelles 2005   b
5
6
 
5
 
HS
 
Sierra Leone 2004
3
5
 
2
 
PC
 
Singapore 2007   bb
4
4
 
4
 
HS
 
Slovakia 2007
11
10
 
13
 
HS
 
Slovenia 2007   e,l
5
4
 
6
 
HS
 
Solomon Islands 1999
32
31
 
34
 
PC
 
South Africa 2007
23
20
 
27
 
HS
 
Spain 2007   a
8
6
 
11
 
HS
 
Sri Lanka 2007   b,cc
6
4
 
9
 
HS
 
St. Helena 1998   dd
18
20
 
15
 
PC
 
Suriname 1999
13
10
 
20
 
HS
 
Swaziland 1997
23
20
 
26
 
PC
 
Sweden 2007   a
6
6
 
6
 
HS
 
Switzerland 2007
4
3
 
5
 
HS
 
Syrian Arab Republic 2003   b
10
8
 
21
 
HS
 
TFYR of Macedonia 2007   b
35
35
 
36
 
HS
 
Thailand 2007   b
1
1
 
1
 
HS
 
Tonga 2003   b
5
4
 
7
 
HS
 
Trinidad and Tobago 2007
7
4
 
10
 
HS
 
Tunisia 2005
14
13
 
17
 
HS
 
Turkey 2007   b
10
10
 
10
 
HS
 
Uganda 2003   c
3
3
 
4
 
HS
 
Ukraine 2006   q
7
7
 
7
 
HS
 
United Arab Emirates 2005   o
3
3
 
7
 
PC
 
United Kingdom 2007   a
5
6
 
5
 
HS
 
United Republic of Tanzania 2001   c,ii
5
4
 
6
 
HS
 
United States 2007   a,b,ff
5
5
 
5
 
HS
 
Uruguay 2007   f,l
9
7
 
12
 
HS
 
Venezuela 2007   b
7
7
 
8
 
HS
 
Viet Nam 2004
2
2
 
2
 
HS
 
Yemen 1999
12
13
 
8
 
HS
 
Zambia 2000   g,gg
13
14
 
11
 
PC
 
Zimbabwe 2004
4
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 December 2008).

ELFS
European Labour Force Survey (Eurostat).
HS
Household survey.
MC
Micro-census.
PC
Population census.
OE
Official estimate.

Footnotes:

Not available.
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

Technical notes:

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 source used to obtain information on unemployment and the differences in the scope and coverage of such sources.