Afghanistan: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
In , Afghanistan's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 13.35.
That's down 2.5% from 2024, the highest value since .
The global average for this indicator in 2025 was 6.73 . Afghanistan ranks #20 globally out of 182 reporting countries. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, it ranks #8 of 21.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS) • Data as of 2025
Trend (2006–2025)
- 2008 · Global financial crisis
- 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic
Highlights
- Peak
- 14.10
- Trough
- 7.81
- 1-year change
- -2.5%
- 5-year change
- +14.0%
- +2.7% / yr
- 10-year change
- +47.8%
- +4.0% / yr
Historical Data — Last 10 Years
| Year | Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) |
|---|---|
| 13.3510 | |
| 13.6870 | |
| 14.0080 | |
| 14.1000 | |
| 12.0060 | |
| 11.7100 | |
| 11.1870 | |
| 11.1920 | |
| 11.1840 | |
| 10.1160 |
About Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Indicator code: SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS • Category: Labor & Business
Frequently asked questions
- What was Afghanistan's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025?
- In 2025, Afghanistan's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 13.35, according to World Bank Open Data.
- Is Afghanistan's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rising or falling?
- Afghanistan's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) fell 2.5% from 2024 to 2025.
- How does Afghanistan rank globally on Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)?
- In 2025, Afghanistan ranked #20 out of 182 countries reporting Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate).
- How does Afghanistan's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) compare to the world average?
- The global average for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025 was 6.73, so Afghanistan is above the world average. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, it ranks #8 of 21.
- What is Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) and how is it measured?
- Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.