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Statistics · Country
Unemployment rate in United Kingdom
1995 – 2023 · 29 data points
2 of 4 · Countries
Updated 21 Oct 2026
Source: OECD Regional Database, 1995 – 2023
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Latest value · 2023
3.9%
+0.2 pp
since 2022
Countries · 2023
2 of 4
Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2013
−3.7 pp
vs World
−0.9 pp
World: 4.8% · 2025
Unemployment rate, 1995 – 2023 percent · United Kingdom · World
−3.7 pp since 2013
0%
2.5%
5%
7.5%
10%
1995
2005
2010
2015
2025
United Kingdom
World
Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1995 – 2023
Compared with Unemployment rate · percent
United Kingdom
3.9%
World
4.8% · 2025
Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators
The series at a glance United Kingdom · 1995 – 2023
Latest value
3.9% · 2023
First value
8.6% · 1995
Highest
8.6% · 1995
Lowest
3.7% · 2022
Data points
29
By year
All years · 1995 – 2023
| Year | United Kingdom | Change | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.9% | +0.2 pp | 4.8% |
| 2022 | 3.7% | −0.8 pp | 5.2% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | −0.1 pp | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 4.6% | +0.8 pp | 6.6% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | −0.3 pp | 5.6% |
| 2018 | 4.1% | −0.3 pp | 5.8% |
| 2017 | 4.4% | −0.5 pp | 5.9% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | −0.5 pp | 6.0% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | −0.8 pp | 6.0% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | −1.4 pp | 6.0% |
| 2013 | 7.6% | −0.4 pp | 6.1% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | −0.1 pp | 6.2% |
| 2011 | 8.1% | +0.2 pp | 6.1% |
| 2010 | 7.9% | +0.3 pp | 6.3% |
| 2009 | 7.6% | +1.9 pp | 6.4% |
| 2008 | 5.7% | +0.4 pp | 5.8% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | −0.1 pp | 5.8% |
| 2006 | 5.4% | +0.6 pp | 6.0% |
| 2005 | 4.8% | ±0.0 pp | 6.2% |
| 2004 | 4.8% | −0.2 pp | 6.3% |
| 2003 | 5.0% | −0.2 pp | 6.5% |
| 2002 | 5.2% | +0.1 pp | 6.4% |
| 2001 | 5.1% | −0.4 pp | 6.2% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | −0.5 pp | 6.1% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | −0.3 pp | 6.3% |
| 1998 | 6.3% | −0.7 pp | 6.2% |
| 1997 | 7.0% | −1.1 pp | 6.0% |
| 1996 | 8.1% | −0.5 pp | 6.0% |
| 1995 | 8.6% | 5.9% |
Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1995 – 2023
Ranking · Countries
2016 · Place 1 is the highest value.
| # | Territory | Unemployment rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | South Korea | 3.7% | |
| 4 | United States | 4.9% | |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 4.9% | |
| 2 | Chile | 6.7% | |
| 1 | Canada | 7.0% |
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2016
What it means
The share of people who want a job and are looking for one but do not have one.
How it is calculated
Unemployed people divided by the labour force (employed plus unemployed), following the international definition; annual average.
Economy & jobs
United Kingdom in numbers
GDP per person
£39,845
2023
GDP per person (PPP)
US$59,700
2023
Gross domestic product
US$4T
2025
Economic growth
1.4%
2025
Inflation
3.9%
2025
Youth unemployment
14.6%
2025
Employment rate
75.2%
2024
Labour force participation
61.4%
2025
Household income per person
US$36,868
2023
Income inequality (Gini)
32.4
2021