Iran, Islamic Rep. — Unemployment
Unemployment Rate for Iran, Islamic Rep., 1991–2025.
Unemployment for Iran, Islamic Rep. was 8.30% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1991 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 13.68% in 2010. The lowest was 8.13% in 2023 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.85% per year.
Iran, Islamic Rep. ranks 54 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 29%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 9.00%, so Iran, Islamic Rep. sits below it. It peaked in 2010 and has fallen 39% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 26%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 13 of 23 economies; Egypt, Arab Rep. (6.78%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 15% in 2005. That is 18% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 43rd of 187 in 1991 → 52nd of 187 in 2000 → 34th of 187 in 2010 → 55th of 187 in 2020 → 50th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1991 to 2025
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8.3% | +0.2 pp |
| 2024 | 8.15% | +0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 8.13% | -1.0 pp |
| 2022 | 9.09% | -0.2 pp |
| 2021 | 9.28% | -0.4 pp |
| 2020 | 9.69% | -1.1 pp |
| 2019 | 10.74% | -1.5 pp |
| 2018 | 12.2% | -0.0 pp |
| 2017 | 12.23% | -0.4 pp |
| 2016 | 12.62% | +1.5 pp |
| 2015 | 11.17% | +0.5 pp |
| 2014 | 10.68% | +0.1 pp |
| 2013 | 10.6% | -1.7 pp |
| 2012 | 12.28% | -0.2 pp |
| 2011 | 12.49% | -1.2 pp |
| 2010 | 13.68% | +1.6 pp |
| 2009 | 12.11% | +1.5 pp |
| 2008 | 10.63% | -0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 10.77% | -0.7 pp |
| 2006 | 11.52% | -0.3 pp |
| 2005 | 11.81% | +1.5 pp |
| 2004 | 10.3% | -1.2 pp |
| 2003 | 11.53% | -1.3 pp |
| 2002 | 12.8% | +0.4 pp |
| 2001 | 12.36% | +0.7 pp |
| 2000 | 11.7% | +0.5 pp |
| 1999 | 11.18% | +0.8 pp |
| 1998 | 10.36% | +0.7 pp |
| 1997 | 9.68% | +0.6 pp |
| 1996 | 9.1% | -0.8 pp |
| 1995 | 9.9% | -0.6 pp |
| 1994 | 10.46% | -0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 10.57% | -0.1 pp |
| 1992 | 10.65% | -0.4 pp |
| 1991 | 11.1% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Iran, Islamic Rep.’s Unemployment in 1992?
10.65% (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 Iran, Islamic Rep.’s Unemployment growing or shrinking?
Between 1991 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -25.2% in total — about 0.9% 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: 8.3%; 2024: 8.15%; 2023: 8.13%; 2022: 9.09%; 2021: 9.28%. 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.