Unemployment ranking 2018 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by Unemployment Rate in 2018, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: South Africa (26.91%). A total of 187 economies reported a value that year.
The leader, South Africa, stood at 26.91%. The twentieth economy, Angola, reported 16.6% — a 1.6× spread inside the top 20 alone. Of 187 economies reporting that year, these twenty are the ones usually quoted.
| # | Country | % of total labor force (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 26.91% |
| 2 | Eswatini | 26.47% |
| 3 | West Bank and Gaza | 26.26% |
| 4 | Djibouti | 26.18% |
| 5 | North Macedonia | 21.21% |
| 6 | Republic of the Congo | 20.84% |
| 7 | Gabon | 20.46% |
| 8 | Namibia | 19.88% |
| 9 | Botswana | 19.67% |
| 10 | St. Lucia | 19.33% |
| 11 | Greece | 19.18% |
| 12 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 19.01% |
| 13 | Armenia | 18.97% |
| 14 | Libya | 18.86% |
| 15 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 18.7% |
| 16 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 18.4% |
| 17 | Jordan | 18.26% |
| 18 | Yemen | 17.59% |
| 19 | Lesotho | 16.61% |
| 20 | Angola | 16.6% |
Where are they now?
The top five of 2018 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 2018 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | #2 | #2 |
| Eswatini | #1 | #1 |
| West Bank and Gaza | #5 | #5 |
| Djibouti | #3 | #3 |
| North Macedonia | #24 | #24 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest Unemployment in 2018?
South Africa, with 26.91% (% of total labor force).
How many countries are included?
187 economies reported a value for SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS in 2018. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.