Syrian Arab Republic — Unemployment
Unemployment Rate for Syrian Arab Republic, 1991–2025.
Unemployment for Syrian Arab Republic was 13.57% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1991 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 15.18% in 2020. The lowest was 6.75% in 1991 (about 2.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 2.07% per year.
Syrian Arab Republic ranks 20 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 11%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 9.00%, so Syrian Arab Republic sits above it. It peaked in 2020 and has fallen 11% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 5%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 8 of 23 economies; Afghanistan (13.35%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 60% in 2012.
Data highlights
From its 1991 level: doubled by 2012. Doubling roughly every 34 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 86th of 187 in 1991 → 73rd of 187 in 2000 → 63rd of 187 in 2010 → 29th of 187 in 2020 → 19th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1991 to 2025
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13.57% | +0.2 pp |
| 2024 | 13.36% | +0.1 pp |
| 2023 | 13.27% | +0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 13.25% | -1.6 pp |
| 2021 | 14.89% | -0.3 pp |
| 2020 | 15.18% | +1.8 pp |
| 2019 | 13.37% | -0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 13.51% | -0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 13.6% | -0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 13.8% | -0.4 pp |
| 2015 | 14.24% | -0.5 pp |
| 2014 | 14.78% | +0.3 pp |
| 2013 | 14.5% | +0.7 pp |
| 2012 | 13.8% | +5.2 pp |
| 2011 | 8.63% | +0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 8.61% | +0.5 pp |
| 2009 | 8.14% | -2.8 pp |
| 2008 | 10.94% | +2.5 pp |
| 2007 | 8.42% | +0.3 pp |
| 2006 | 8.17% | -0.6 pp |
| 2005 | 8.81% | -0.7 pp |
| 2004 | 9.51% | -0.8 pp |
| 2003 | 10.28% | -0.7 pp |
| 2002 | 10.94% | -0.7 pp |
| 2001 | 11.63% | +2.0 pp |
| 2000 | 9.59% | +2.0 pp |
| 1999 | 7.6% | +0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 7.38% | +0.1 pp |
| 1997 | 7.31% | +0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 7.22% | +0.0 pp |
| 1995 | 7.2% | -0.3 pp |
| 1994 | 7.5% | +0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 7.4% | +0.5 pp |
| 1992 | 6.95% | +0.2 pp |
| 1991 | 6.75% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Syrian Arab Republic’s Unemployment in 1992?
6.95% (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 Syrian Arab Republic’s Unemployment growing or shrinking?
Between 1991 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +101.0% in total — about 2.1% 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: 13.57%; 2024: 13.36%; 2023: 13.27%; 2022: 13.25%; 2021: 14.89%. 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.