Yemen, Rep. — Unemployment
Unemployment Rate for Yemen, Rep., 1991–2025.
Unemployment for Yemen, Rep. was 17.32% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1991 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 18.61% in 2017. The lowest was 8.34% in 1994 (about 2.1× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 2.14% per year.
Yemen, Rep. ranks 12 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 6%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 9.00%, so Yemen, Rep. sits above it. It peaked in 2017 and has fallen 7% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 3%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 4 of 23 economies; Jordan (16.54%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 33% in 2015. That is 2% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1991 level: doubled by 2015. Doubling roughly every 33 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 68th of 187 in 1991 → 54th of 187 in 2000 → 37th of 187 in 2010 → 16th of 187 in 2020 → 11th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1991 to 2025
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17.32% | +0.4 pp |
| 2024 | 16.97% | +0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 16.94% | -0.3 pp |
| 2022 | 17.22% | -1.1 pp |
| 2021 | 18.31% | +0.3 pp |
| 2020 | 17.96% | +0.8 pp |
| 2019 | 17.21% | -0.4 pp |
| 2018 | 17.59% | -1.0 pp |
| 2017 | 18.61% | +0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 18.42% | +0.5 pp |
| 2015 | 17.9% | +4.4 pp |
| 2014 | 13.47% | -0.2 pp |
| 2013 | 13.67% | +0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 13.47% | +0.2 pp |
| 2011 | 13.31% | +0.5 pp |
| 2010 | 12.78% | +0.0 pp |
| 2009 | 12.76% | +0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 12.66% | +0.2 pp |
| 2007 | 12.49% | +0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 12.35% | +0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 12.21% | +0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 12.13% | +0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 12.01% | +0.2 pp |
| 2002 | 11.84% | +0.1 pp |
| 2001 | 11.72% | +0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 11.56% | +0.1 pp |
| 1999 | 11.46% | +0.6 pp |
| 1998 | 10.83% | +0.6 pp |
| 1997 | 10.22% | +0.6 pp |
| 1996 | 9.59% | +0.6 pp |
| 1995 | 8.99% | +0.6 pp |
| 1994 | 8.34% | -0.0 pp |
| 1993 | 8.34% | -0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 8.35% | -0.1 pp |
| 1991 | 8.43% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Yemen, Rep.’s Unemployment in 1992?
8.35% (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 Yemen, Rep.’s Unemployment growing or shrinking?
Between 1991 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +105.5% 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: 17.32%; 2024: 16.97%; 2023: 16.94%; 2022: 17.22%; 2021: 18.31%. 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.