West Bank and Gaza — Unemployment
Unemployment Rate for West Bank and Gaza, 1991–2022.
Unemployment for West Bank and Gaza was 24.42% in 2022, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 32 years, from 1991 to 2022. The highest recorded value was 27.46% in 2002. The lowest was 10.38% in 1999 (about 2.4× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 2.71% per year.
West Bank and Gaza ranks 5 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 3%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 9.00%, so West Bank and Gaza sits above it. It peaked in 2002 and has fallen 11% since. Over the last decade (2012–2022) the figure moved up 27%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 2 of 23 economies; Libya (18.76%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 102% in 2001. That is 3% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1991 level: doubled by 2001. Doubling roughly every 26 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 46th of 187 in 1991 → 63rd of 187 in 2000 → 7th of 187 in 2010 → 4th of 187 in 2020 → 4th of 186 in 2022.
Key figures
Full history — 1991 to 2022
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 24.42% | -2.0 pp |
| 2021 | 26.39% | +0.5 pp |
| 2020 | 25.9% | +0.6 pp |
| 2019 | 25.34% | -0.9 pp |
| 2018 | 26.26% | +0.6 pp |
| 2017 | 25.68% | +1.7 pp |
| 2016 | 23.94% | +0.9 pp |
| 2015 | 23.01% | +2.5 pp |
| 2014 | 20.53% | +0.6 pp |
| 2013 | 19.89% | +0.7 pp |
| 2012 | 19.2% | +1.6 pp |
| 2011 | 17.6% | -3.8 pp |
| 2010 | 21.42% | +1.0 pp |
| 2009 | 20.45% | -2.5 pp |
| 2008 | 22.91% | +4.6 pp |
| 2007 | 18.28% | -0.7 pp |
| 2006 | 19.01% | -1.0 pp |
| 2005 | 20.02% | -3.2 pp |
| 2004 | 23.22% | +0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 23% | -4.5 pp |
| 2002 | 27.47% | +6.0 pp |
| 2001 | 21.49% | +10.9 pp |
| 2000 | 10.63% | +0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 10.38% | -0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 10.45% | -0.1 pp |
| 1997 | 10.52% | -0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 10.73% | +0.0 pp |
| 1995 | 10.71% | -0.1 pp |
| 1994 | 10.78% | +0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 10.71% | +0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 10.69% | +0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 10.67% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was West Bank and Gaza’s Unemployment in 1992?
10.69% (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 West Bank and Gaza’s Unemployment growing or shrinking?
Between 1991 and 2022 the series was growing overall: +129.0% in total — about 2.7% 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: 2022: 24.42%; 2021: 26.39%; 2020: 25.9%; 2019: 25.34%; 2018: 26.26%. 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.