How does Papua New Guinea rank globally on Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)?

In 2025, Papua New Guinea ranked #158 out of 182 countries reporting Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate).

Papua New Guinea: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)

Name: Papua New Guinea: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Creator: World Bank
License: https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/public-licenses#cc-by

In 2025, Papua New Guinea's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 2.57.

That's down 2.1% from 2024, the highest value since 2024.

The global average for this indicator in 2025 was 6.73 . Papua New Guinea ranks #158 globally out of 182 reporting countries. Within East Asia & Pacific, it ranks #19 of 29.

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: 3.03; 2021
Trough: 2.00; 2010
1-year change: -2.1%
5-year change: -11.4%; -2.4% / yr
10-year change: +2.6%; +0.3% / yr

Historical Data — Last 10 Years

Year	Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
2025	2.5710
2024	2.6250
2023	2.6490
2022	2.6890
2021	3.0300
2020	2.9030
2019	2.6510
2018	2.6500
2017	2.5800
2016	2.4780

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 Papua New Guinea's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025?: In 2025, Papua New Guinea's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 2.57, according to World Bank Open Data.
Is Papua New Guinea's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rising or falling?: Papua New Guinea's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) fell 2.1% from 2024 to 2025.
How does Papua New Guinea rank globally on Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)?: In 2025, Papua New Guinea ranked #158 out of 182 countries reporting Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate).
How does Papua New Guinea'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 Papua New Guinea is below the world average. Within East Asia & Pacific, it ranks #19 of 29.
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.

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Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.