Rankings
Global Unemployment Rate by Country: Top 5 Rankings in 2026
50 countries ranked·Source: CIA World Factbook·Last updated: 2024
As of 2026, the unemployment rate by country reveals significant disparities across the globe. Eswatini leads with a staggering 34.4%, followed closely by South Africa at 33.2%, and Djibouti at 25.9%. Understanding these rankings is crucial for policymakers and economists alike, as they reflect the economic health and labor market conditions in different regions. This data is sourced from the CIA World Factbook.
Key Facts
- Eswatini's unemployment rate of 34.4% is the highest in the world.
- South Africa follows closely with an unemployment rate of 33.2%.
- Djibouti's unemployment rate stands at 25.9%, highlighting regional economic challenges.
- The Gaza Strip and West Bank share identical unemployment rates of 24.5%.
- High unemployment rates can lead to increased social unrest and economic instability.
Top 50 Ranking
| # | Countries | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Eswatini | 34.4% |
| 2 |  South Africa | 33.2% |
| 3 |  Djibouti | 25.9% |
| 4 |  Gaza, Gaza Strip | 24.5% |
| 5 |  West Bank | 24.5% |
| 6 |  Botswana | 23.2% |
| 7 |  Gabon | 20.1% |
| 8 |  Congo (Brazzaville) | 19.7% |
| 9 |  Namibia | 19.2% |
| 10 |  Somalia | 18.9% |
| 11 |  Libya | 18.7% |
| 12 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 18.1% |
| 13 |  Jordan | 18.0% |
| 14 |  Yemen | 17.1% |
| 15 |  Tunisia | 16.3% |
| 16 |  Lesotho | 16.2% |
| 17 |  Iraq | 15.6% |
| 18 |  Haiti | 15.1% |
| 19 |  Angola | 14.5% |
| 20 |  Montenegro | 14.1% |
| 21 |  North Macedonia | 13.5% |
| 22 |  Armenia | 13.4% |
| 23 |  Afghanistan | 13.3% |
| 24 |  Syria | 13.0% |
| 25 |  South Sudan | 12.5% |
| 26 |  Virgin Islands | 12.1% |
| 27 |  Rwanda | 12.0% |
| 28 |  Cabo Verde | 11.9% |
| 29 |  French Polynesia | 11.8% |
| 30 |  Tajikistan | 11.7% |
| 31 |  Lebanon | 11.6% |
| 32 |  Algeria | 11.5% |
| 33 |  Georgia | 11.5% |
| 34 |  Sudan | 11.4% |
| 35 |  Spain | 11.4% |
| 36 |  New Caledonia | 11.2% |
| 37 |  Saint Lucia | 11.0% |
| 38 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10.8% |
| 39 |  Nepal | 10.8% |
| 40 |  Mauritania | 10.4% |
| 41 |  Albania | 10.3% |
| 42 |  Greece | 10.2% |
| 43 |  Guyana | 10.2% |
| 44 |  Ukraine | 9.9% |
| 45 |  Colombia | 9.7% |
| 46 |  Iran | 9.2% |
| 47 |  Sao Tome and Principe | 9.2% |
| 48 |  Chile | 9.1% |
| 49 |  Morocco | 9.0% |
| 50 |  Sweden | 8.6% |
Methodology & Data Source
The unemployment rate is calculated as the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment. This data is collected and reported by the CIA World Factbook.
Cite this data
APA
Bamwor. (2024). Countries by Unemployment 2024. Bamwor World Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2026-03-14, from https://bamwor.com/en/countries-by-unemploymentBibTeX
@misc{bamwor_countries_by_unemployment_2024_2024,
author = {Bamwor},
title = {Countries by Unemployment 2024},
year = {2024},
url = {https://bamwor.com/en/countries-by-unemployment},
note = {Bamwor World Encyclopedia. Accessed 2026-03-14}
}Download CSVLicense: CC BY 4.0