Korea, Rep.—Male Unemployment (%)
Category: LaborSource: World Bank World Development Indicators ↗Global Rank: #151 of 187Updated April 2026
Latest Value
2.7%
2025
YoY Change
-2.8%
2024 → 2025
Global Rank
#151
of 187 countries
Maximum
4.6%
2000
Minimum
2.6%
2023
CAGR
-2.2%
26 years
Last
2.7%
Previous
2.8%
Highest
4.6%
Lowest
2.6%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
Korea, Rep.'s male unemployment (%) was 2.7% in 2025, ranking #151 out of 187 countries. This represents a -2.8% change from 2024. Over the past 26 years, the highest recorded value was 4.6% (2000) and the lowest was 2.6% (2023). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.7% | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | -23.6% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | -8.3% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 3.7% | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | +13.4% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | +9.0% |
| 2012 | 3.0% | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 3.2% | -11.6% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | +14.5% |
| 2008 | 3.3% | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 3.8% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 3.7% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 3.6% | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 3.4% | -18.0% |
| 2001 | 4.2% | -9.6% |
| 2000 | 4.6% |
Top Countries — Male Unemployment (%)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eswatini | 32.5% | 2025 |
| 2 | South Africa | 31.0% | 2025 |
| 3 | Djibouti | 21.8% | 2025 |
| 4 | Botswana | 21.5% | 2025 |
| 5 | West Bank and Gaza | 20.2% | 2022 |
| 6 | Namibia | 20.1% | 2025 |
| 7 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 19.5% | 2025 |
| 8 | Congo, Rep. | 18.7% | 2025 |
| 9 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 16.4% | 2025 |
| 10 | Yemen, Rep. | 16.3% | 2025 |
About This Indicator
Definition
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Methodology
Data compiled by ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), uri: https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/bulk/, publisher: ILOSTAT, type: external database, date accessed: January 17, 2026.