Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 was 4.9 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 4.9 for unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.3% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 11.51 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 2.6, in 1973.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 44th of 69 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.3 | — |
| 1972 | 3.7 | +12.1% |
| 1973 | 2.6 | -29.7% |
| 1974 | 2.6 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 4 | +53.8% |
| 1976 | 5.5 | +37.5% |
| 1977 | 5.8 | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 4.99 | -13.9% |
| 1979 | 3.7 | -25.8% |
| 1980 | 3.88 | +4.9% |
| 1981 | 10.4 | +167.9% |
| 1982 | 10.9 | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 11.09 | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 10.9 | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 11.48 | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 11.51 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 11.02 | -4.3% |
| 1988 | 9 | -18.3% |
| 1989 | 7.41 | -17.8% |
| 1990 | 6.97 | -5.9% |
| 1991 | 8.55 | +22.7% |
| 1992 | 9.77 | +14.3% |
| 1993 | 10.35 | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 9.65 | -6.7% |
| 1995 | 8.69 | -9.9% |
| 1996 | 8.19 | -5.8% |
| 1997 | 7.07 | -13.6% |
| 1998 | 6.2 | -12.4% |
| 1999 | 6.04 | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 5.56 | -8.0% |
| 2001 | 4.7 | -15.5% |
| 2002 | 5.04 | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 4.81 | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 4.59 | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 4.88 | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 5.47 | +12.0% |
| 2007 | 5.4 | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 5.75 | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 7.68 | +33.7% |
| 2010 | 7.97 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 8.2 | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 8.28 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 7.75 | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 6.4 | -17.5% |
| 2015 | 5.55 | -13.2% |
| 2016 | 4.91 | -11.6% |
| 2017 | 4.5 | -8.3% |
| 2018 | 4.14 | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 3.66 | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 4.52 | +23.5% |
| 2021 | 4.86 | +7.7% |
| 2022 | 3.77 | -22.5% |
| 2023 | 4.03 | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 4.36 | +8.3% |
| 2025 | 4.9 | +12.3% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 4.9 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.67, 1.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 4.9 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.43, 90% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +167.9% | 3.88 | 10.4 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.02 | 2.6 | 5.8 | 9 |
| 1980s | 9.76 | 3.88 | 11.51 | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.15 | 6.04 | 10.35 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.39 | 4.59 | 7.68 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.14 | 3.66 | 8.28 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.41 | 3.77 | 4.9 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 4.9 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 11.51 in 1986.
- What is the lowest unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6 in 1973.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 44th out of 69 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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