Unemployment ranking 1997 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Unemployment Rate in 1997, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: North Macedonia (36%). A total of 187 economies reported a value that year.
| # | Country | % of total labor force (1997) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Macedonia | 36% |
| 2 | Montenegro | 30.22% |
| 3 | Djibouti | 27.18% |
| 4 | Algeria | 25.43% |
| 5 | Namibia | 24.45% |
| 6 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 22.59% |
| 7 | South Africa | 22.55% |
| 8 | Eswatini | 22.5% |
| 9 | Botswana | 21.03% |
| 10 | Spain | 20.7% |
| 11 | St. Lucia | 20.47% |
| 12 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 20.13% |
| 13 | Congo, Rep. | 19.89% |
| 14 | Libya | 19.15% |
| 15 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 18.9% |
| 16 | New Caledonia | 18.38% |
| 17 | Gabon | 17.17% |
| 18 | Belarus | 17.1% |
| 19 | Albania | 16.87% |
| 20 | Angola | 16.06% |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1997 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1997 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| North Macedonia | #24 | #24 |
| Montenegro | #19 | #19 |
| Djibouti | #3 | #3 |
| Algeria | #29 | #29 |
| Namibia | #8 | #8 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest Unemployment in 1997?
North Macedonia, with 36% (% of total labor force).
How many countries are included?
187 economies reported a value for SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS in 1997. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.