Unemployment, modelled: SDG 8.5.2 in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Unemployment, modelled: SDG 8.5.2 was 4.75 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
4.75
Change on year
up 8.8%
World rank
46th
of 69 countries
All-time high
10.35
in 1993
All-time low
3.66
in 2019
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, modelled ILO estimate (% of total labour force) - SDG in United Kingdom, 1991–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 4.75 for unemployment, modelled ilo estimate (% of total labour force) - sdg in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.8% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, modelled ilo estimate (% of total labour force) - sdg in United Kingdom peaked at 10.35 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 3.66, in 2019.
United Kingdom ranks 46th of 69 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, modelled: SDG 8.5.2 in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.55 | — |
| 1992 | 9.77 | +14.3% |
| 1993 | 10.35 | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 9.65 | -6.7% |
| 1995 | 8.69 | -9.9% |
| 1996 | 8.19 | -5.8% |
| 1997 | 7.07 | -13.6% |
| 1998 | 6.2 | -12.4% |
| 1999 | 6.04 | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 5.56 | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 4.7 | -15.5% |
| 2002 | 5.04 | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 4.81 | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 4.59 | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 4.88 | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 5.47 | +12.0% |
| 2007 | 5.4 | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 5.75 | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 7.68 | +33.7% |
| 2010 | 7.97 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 8.2 | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 8.28 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 7.75 | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 6.4 | -17.5% |
| 2015 | 5.55 | -13.2% |
| 2016 | 4.91 | -11.6% |
| 2017 | 4.5 | -8.3% |
| 2018 | 4.14 | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 3.66 | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 4.47 | +22.3% |
| 2021 | 4.86 | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 3.77 | -22.5% |
| 2023 | 4.03 | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 4.36 | +8.3% |
| 2025 | 4.75 | +8.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 4.75 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.81, 99% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 4.75 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.56, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.28 | 6.04 | 10.35 | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.39 | 4.59 | 7.68 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.14 | 3.66 | 8.28 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.37 | 3.77 | 4.86 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 43 Cyprus 4.92 compare
- 44 Switzerland 4.87 compare
- 45 Kazakhstan 4.77 compare
- 47 Norway 4.64 compare
- 48 Ireland 4.63 compare
- 49 Uzbekistan 4.62 compare
More social development data for United Kingdom
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 581,072 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 517 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 517 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0084 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, modelled ilo estimate (% of total labour force) - sdg in United Kingdom?
- Unemployment, modelled ilo estimate (% of total labour force) - sdg in United Kingdom was 4.75 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest unemployment, modelled ilo estimate (% of total labour force) - sdg recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 10.35 in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment, modelled ilo estimate (% of total labour force) - sdg recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.66 in 2019.
- How does United Kingdom rank for unemployment, modelled ilo estimate (% of total labour force) - sdg?
- United Kingdom ranks 46th out of 69 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, modelled ilo estimate (% of total labour force) - sdg rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Unemployment, modelled ILO estimate (% of total labour force) - SDG 8.5.2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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