Hong Kong SAR, China — Unemployment
Unemployment Rate for Hong Kong SAR, China, 1991–2025.
Unemployment for Hong Kong SAR, China was 2.80% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1991 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 7.86% in 2003. The lowest was 1.80% in 1991 (about 1.6× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 1.31% per year.
Hong Kong SAR, China ranks 156 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 83%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 3.05%, so Hong Kong SAR, China sits below it. It peaked in 2003 and has fallen 64% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 16%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 17 of 29 economies; Korea, Rep. (2.68%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 106% in 1998. That is 22% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1991 level: doubled by 1998. Doubling roughly every 53 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 164th of 187 in 1991 → 120th of 187 in 2000 → 133rd of 187 in 2010 → 104th of 187 in 2020 → 151st of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1991 to 2025
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.8% | -0.2 pp |
| 2024 | 2.99% | +0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 2.95% | -1.4 pp |
| 2022 | 4.32% | -0.9 pp |
| 2021 | 5.17% | -0.6 pp |
| 2020 | 5.81% | +2.9 pp |
| 2019 | 2.92% | +0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 2.81% | -0.3 pp |
| 2017 | 3.12% | -0.3 pp |
| 2016 | 3.39% | +0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 3.31% | +0.0 pp |
| 2014 | 3.3% | -0.1 pp |
| 2013 | 3.4% | +0.1 pp |
| 2012 | 3.29% | -0.1 pp |
| 2011 | 3.42% | -0.9 pp |
| 2010 | 4.33% | -0.9 pp |
| 2009 | 5.26% | +1.7 pp |
| 2008 | 3.56% | -0.4 pp |
| 2007 | 4.01% | -0.8 pp |
| 2006 | 4.77% | -0.8 pp |
| 2005 | 5.58% | -1.2 pp |
| 2004 | 6.74% | -1.1 pp |
| 2003 | 7.86% | +0.6 pp |
| 2002 | 7.28% | +2.2 pp |
| 2001 | 5.09% | +0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 4.92% | -1.3 pp |
| 1999 | 6.25% | +1.7 pp |
| 1998 | 4.58% | +2.4 pp |
| 1997 | 2.22% | -0.6 pp |
| 1996 | 2.83% | -0.4 pp |
| 1995 | 3.22% | +1.3 pp |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 1.96% | +0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 1.96% | +0.2 pp |
| 1991 | 1.8% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Hong Kong SAR, China’s Unemployment in 1992?
1.96% (1992). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of total labor force, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Hong Kong SAR, China’s Unemployment growing or shrinking?
Between 1991 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +55.5% in total — about 1.3% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 2.8%; 2024: 2.99%; 2023: 2.95%; 2022: 4.32%; 2021: 5.17%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS — Unemployment Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.