Iraq: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
In , Iraq's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 15.49.
That's up 1.3% from 2024, the highest value since .
The global average for this indicator in 2025 was 6.73 . Iraq ranks #14 globally out of 182 reporting countries. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, it ranks #5 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
- 16.17
- Trough
- 7.97
- 1-year change
- +1.3%
- 5-year change
- -1.8%
- -0.4% / yr
- 10-year change
- +42.5%
- +3.6% / yr
Historical Data — Last 10 Years
| Year | Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) |
|---|---|
| 15.4850 | |
| 15.2930 | |
| 15.2390 | |
| 15.4100 | |
| 16.1730 | |
| 15.7660 | |
| 14.0960 | |
| 13.4580 | |
| 13.0200 | |
| 10.8200 |
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 Iraq's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025?
- In 2025, Iraq's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 15.49, according to World Bank Open Data.
- Is Iraq's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rising or falling?
- Iraq's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rose 1.3% from 2024 to 2025.
- How does Iraq rank globally on Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)?
- In 2025, Iraq ranked #14 out of 182 countries reporting Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate).
- How does Iraq'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 Iraq is above the world average. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, it ranks #5 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.