Social indicators

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Indicators on unemployment
Last update: December 2009
       
       
Country or area
Year
Total
Men
Women
Source
Afghanistan 2005
9
8
10
  
HS
Albania 2001
23
19
28
  
PC
Algeria 2007   t
14
13
18
  
HS
American Samoa 2000   o
5
5
6
  
PC
Anguilla 2002   a,t
8
6
10
  
HS
Antigua and Barbuda 2001
8
8
9
  
PC
Argentina 2006   b,c1
10
8
12
  
HS
Armenia 2001
36
32
40
  
PC
Aruba 1997
8
7
8
  
HS
Australia 2008   a,t
4
4
5
  
HS
Austria 2008
4
4
4
  
ELFS
Azerbaijan 2007   a,g,t
7
8
5
  
HS
Bahamas 2007   a
8
7
9
  
HS
Bahrain 2001
6
4
11
  
PC
Bangladesh 2005   a
4
3
7
  
HS
Barbados 2004   a
10
9
11
  
HS
Belgium 2008
7
7
8
  
ELFS
Belize 2005   e
11
8
17
  
HS
Benin 2002
1
1
0
  
PC
Bermuda 2000
3
3
2
  
PC
Bhutan 2005
3
3
3
  
PC
Bolivia 2002   a,v
5
4
7
  
HS
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007
29
27
33
  
HS
Botswana 2006   a,c
18
15
20
  
HS
Brazil 2008   b,t,d1
8
6
10
  
HS
British Virgin Islands 1991
4
4
3
  
PC
Brunei Darussalam 1991
5
4
7
  
PC
Bulgaria 2008   m,t
6
6
6
  
HS
Burkina Faso 1998   a,b
2
2
3
  
HS
Burundi 1990
1
1
0
  
PC
Cambodia 2004   b
7
8
7
  
HS
Cameroon 2001
8
8
7
  
HS
Canada 2008   a,t
6
7
6
  
HS
Cape Verde 1990
23
23
23
  
PC
Cayman Islands 2007   a
4
4
4
  
HS
Chad 1993   h
1
1
0
  
PC
Chile 2008   t
8
7
10
  
HS
China 2007   t,l1
4
...
...
  
OE
China, Hong Kong SAR 2008   a,t
4
...
...
  
HS
China, Macao SAR 2008   a,e,t
3
3
3
  
HS
Colombia 2008   a,c,t
12
9
15
  
HS
Comoros 1991   c
20
21
17
  
PC
Cook Islands 2001
13
12
15
  
PC
Costa Rica 2007   c
5
3
7
  
HS
Côte d'Ivoire 1998   a
4
...
...
  
PC
Croatia 2008
8
7
10
  
ELFS
Cuba 2007   q,w
2
2
2
  
HS
Cyprus 2008   t
4
3
4
  
HS
Czech Republic 2008
4
4
6
  
ELFS
Denmark 2008
3
3
4
  
ELFS
Djibouti 1991
44
42
47
  
HS
Dominica 2001
11
12
10
  
PC
Dominican Republic 2007   b
16
9
25
  
HS
Ecuador 2008
7
...
...
  
OE
Egypt 2008   a,h,t
9
6
19
  
HS
El Salvador 2006   b
7
9
4
  
HS
Equatorial Guinea 1983   r
24
27
19
  
PC
Estonia 2008   m,t
6
6
5
  
HS
Ethiopia 2006   a,l1
17
12
23
  
HS
Faeroe Islands 2005   o
3
3
4
  
HS
Fiji 2005   f,t
5
4
6
  
HS
Finland 2008
6
6
7
  
ELFS
France 2008
7
7
8
  
ELFS
French Polynesia 2002
12
11
13
  
PC
Gabon 1993
18
19
16
  
PC
Georgia 2007   a
13
14
13
  
HS
Germany 2008
8
7
8
  
ELFS
Ghana 2000
10
10
11
  
PC
Gibraltar 1991
6
8
4
  
PC
Greece 2008
8
5
11
  
ELFS
Greenland 2006
8
10
7
  
OE
Grenada 1998   m1
15
11
22
  
HS
Guadeloupe 2007   t
23
19
26
  
HS
Guam 2000   a
12
12
12
  
PC
Guatemala 2006   a,b,z
2
2
2
  
HS
Guyana 2002
12
10
15
  
PC
Haiti 1999
7
6
8
  
HS
Honduras 2006   a,b,i1
3
3
4
  
HS
Hungary 2008
8
8
8
  
ELFS
Iceland 2008   a,n,t
3
3
3
  
HS
India 2004   u,g1
5
5
5
  
HS
Indonesia 2008   t
8
...
...
  
HS
Iran, Islamic Republic of 2007   b
11
9
16
  
HS
Iraq 2004
11
10
13
  
HS
Ireland 2008
6
7
5
  
ELFS
Isle of Man 2006
2
3
2
  
PC
Israel 2008   a,y,j1
6
6
7
  
HS
Italy 2008
7
6
9
  
ELFS
Jamaica 2008   a,e,t
11
7
15
  
HS
Japan 2008   t
4
4
4
  
HS
Jordan 2008
13
10
24
  
HS
Kazakhstan 2004
8
7
10
  
HS
Kenya 1999
10
...
...
  
PC
Kosovo 2007   h,n1
46
39
55
  
HS
Kuwait 2004
2
...
...
  
HS
Kyrgyzstan 2006
8
8
9
  
HS
Lao People's Democratic Republic 2005
1
1
1
  
PC
Latvia 2008   m,t
8
8
7
  
HS
Lebanon 2004
8
...
...
  
HS
Lesotho 1999
27
22
33
  
HS
Liberia 2007   x
6
7
4
  
HS
Lithuania 2008
6
6
6
  
ELFS
Luxembourg 2008
5
4
6
  
ELFS
Madagascar 2005   a
3
2
4
  
HS
Malawi 2004   n1
8
5
10
  
HS
Malaysia 2007   a,h,t
3
3
3
  
HS
Maldives 2006   m1
14
8
24
  
PC
Mali 2004
9
7
11
  
HS
Malta 2008
6
6
7
  
ELFS
Marshall Islands 1999
31
28
37
  
PC
Martinique 2007   t
21
21
22
  
HS
Mauritania 2000   b
21
9
41
  
OE
Mauritius 2008   a,e,t
7
4
13
  
HS
Mexico 2008   e,t
4
4
4
  
HS
Monaco 2000   p,a1
4
3
5
  
PC
Mongolia 2005   p1
3
3
4
  
OE
Montenegro 2005   h,t
30
26
36
  
HS
Montserrat 1987   a,t,p1
2
...
...
  
OE
Morocco 2008   t
10
10
10
  
HS
Mozambique 1997   s
2
3
1
  
PC
Myanmar 1990   b,n1
6
5
9
  
HS
Namibia 2004   t
22
19
25
  
HS
Nepal 2001   b
9
7
11
  
PC
Netherlands 2008
3
3
3
  
ELFS
Netherlands Antilles 2007   e1
12
10
14
  
HS
New Caledonia 1996   e
19
16
22
  
PC
New Zealand 2008   a,t
4
4
4
  
HS
Nicaragua 2006   b
5
5
5
  
HS
Niger 2001
2
2
1
  
PC
Nigeria 1986   a
4
4
4
  
HS
Niue 2002
10
...
...
  
HS
Northern Mariana Islands 2003   o
5
5
4
  
HS
Norway 2008
3
3
2
  
ELFS
Occupied Palestinian Territories 2008
26
26
24
  
HS
Pakistan 2007   a
5
4
9
  
HS
Panama 2007
7
5
9
  
HS
Papua New Guinea 2000   b,t
3
4
1
  
PC
Paraguay 2007   a
6
4
8
  
HS
Peru 2007   e,k1,m1
7
6
8
  
HS
Philippines 2008   t
7
8
7
  
HS
Poland 2008
7
6
8
  
ELFS
Portugal 2008
8
7
9
  
ELFS
Puerto Rico 2008   a,o,b1
12
...
...
  
HS
Republic of Korea 2008   a,t
3
4
3
  
HS
Republic of Moldova 2008   t
4
5
3
  
HS
Réunion 2007   t
24
23
26
  
HS
Romania 2008   t
6
7
5
  
HS
Russian Federation 2008   l
6
...
...
  
HS
Rwanda 1996   h
1
1
0
  
HS
Saint Helena 1998   j
18
20
15
  
PC
Saint Lucia 2004
21
18
25
  
HS
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1991
20
18
22
  
PC
Samoa 2001
5
4
6
  
PC
San Marino 2007   p1
3
1
5
  
OE
Sao Tome and Principe 2006   p1
17
11
25
  
OE
Saudi Arabia 2007
6
4
13
  
HS
Senegal 2006   t
11
8
14
  
HS
Serbia 2007
18
16
21
  
HS
Seychelles 2005   a
6
6
5
  
HS
Sierra Leone 2004
3
5
2
  
PC
Singapore 2008   t
3
3
4
  
HS
Slovakia 2008
10
8
11
  
ELFS
Slovenia 2008   t
4
4
5
  
HS
Solomon Islands 1999   a1
32
31
34
  
PC
South Africa 2008   ii,t
23
20
26
  
HS
Spain 2008
11
10
13
  
ELFS
Sri Lanka 2008   a,b,t,h1
5
4
8
  
HS
Swaziland 1997
23
20
26
  
PC
Sweden 2008
6
6
7
  
ELFS
Switzerland 2008
3
3
4
  
ELFS
Syrian Arab Republic 2003   a,z
10
8
21
  
HS
TFYR of Macedonia 2008   a,t
34
34
34
  
HS
Thailand 2008   a,d,t
1
2
1
  
HS
Tonga 2003   a
5
4
7
  
HS
Trinidad and Tobago 2007
7
4
10
  
HS
Tunisia 2005
14
13
17
  
HS
Turkey 2008   a
9
9
9
  
ELFS
Turks and Caicos Islands 2005
8
...
...
  
OE
Tuvalu 2004
16
...
...
  
HS
Uganda 2003   b,t
3
3
4
  
HS
Ukraine 2008   k,t
6
...
...
  
HS
United Arab Emirates 2005   h
3
3
7
  
PC
United Kingdom 2008
6
6
5
  
ELFS
United Republic of Tanzania 2006   b
4
3
6
  
HS
United States 2008   a,o,t
6
6
5
  
HS
Uruguay 2008   e
8
5
10
  
HS
Vanuatu 1999   h
2
...
...
  
PC
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 2008   a,t
7
7
8
  
HS
Viet Nam 2004
2
2
2
  
HS
Yemen 1999
12
13
8
  
HS
Zambia 2000   c,o1
13
14
11
  
PC
Zimbabwe 2004
4
4
4
  
HS

 

Sources:

International Labour Office, Table 8a. Unemployment (LFS), published in Key Indicators of the Labour Market (KILM) Sixth Edition. Also available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/strat/kilm/ (accessed December 2009).

ELFS
 European Labour Force Survey (Eurostat).
HS
 Household survey.
MC
 Micro-census.
PC
 Population census.
OE
 Official estimate.

Footnotes:

a
 Refers to civilian labour force.
b
 Refers to age group 10+.
c
 Refers to age group 12+.
d
 Refers to age group 13+.
e
 Refers to age group 14+.
f
 Refers to age group 15-55.
g
 Refers to age group 15-61.
h
 Refers to age group 15-64.
ii
 Refers to age group 15-65.
j
 Refers to age group 15-69.
k
 Refers to age group 15-70.
l
 Refers to age group 15-72.
m
 Refers to age group 15-74.
n
 Refers to age group 16-74.
o
 Refers to age group 16+.
p
 Refers to age group 17+.
q
 Refers to age group 17-60.
r
 Refers to age group 6+.
s
 Refers to age group 7+.
t
 Labour force is calculated from the number of unemployed and the unemployment rate. As a result, male and female may not add to both sexes.
u
 Data are based on the national sample survey conducted every five years.
v
 Data are derived from micro-sources.
w
 Data for males refers to ages 17-60 and data for females to ages 17-55. Labour force is calculated from the number of unemployed and the unemployment rate. As a result, male and female may not add to both sexes.
x
 Estimates based on 3,600 interviewed households.
y
 Including persons who did not work in the country during the previous 12 months. Labour force is calculated from the number of unemployed and the unemployment rate. As a result, male and female may not add to both sexes.
z
 Methodology revised; data not strictly comparable.
a1
 The size of the Census sample tabulation is not specified.
b1
 Excluding persons temporarily laid-off. Labour force is calculated from the number of unemployed and the unemployment rate. As a result, male and female may not add to both sexes.
c1
 31 urban agglomerations.
d1
 6 metropolitan areas.
e1
 Curaçao.
f1
 Excluding Kosovo and Metohia.
g1
 Excluding Leh and Kargil of Jammu and Kashmi districts, some villages in Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
h1
 Excluding the Northern and Eastern provinces.
i1
 Excluding the provinces of Gracias a Dios and Islas de la Bahía.
j1
 Including East Jerusalem.
k1
 Metropolitan Lima.
l1
 Urban areas.
m1
 Excluding conscripts.
n1
 Coverage not available.
o1
 Data refer to the usually active population.
p1
 Age group not specified.

 

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Technical notes:

The adult unemployment rate refers to the proportion of the adult (aged 15 years and older) labour force that is unemployed, unless otherwise specified. The unemployed are persons who are currently without work, who are currently available for work, and who are seeking or have sought work recently. The base for these statistics is the labour force (that is, the economically active portion of the population), not the total population.

The International Conference of Labour Statisticians adopted the following definition of the unemployed as an international recommendation in 1982: All persons who during the reference period were: (1) "without work", that is, were not in paid employment or self-employment as specified by the international definition of employment; (2) "currently available for work", that is, were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; or (3) "seeking work", that is, had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment.

National definitions of unemployment may differ from the recommended international standard definition. The national definitions used vary from one country to another as regards inter alia age limits, reference periods, criteria for seeking work, treatment of persons temporarily laid off and of persons seeking work for the first time. Inter-country comparisons are further hampered by the variety of types of source used to obtain information on unemployment and the differences in the scope and coverage of such sources.