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Uruguay’s Unemployment Rate

#127 of 178 in the Unemployment Rate progress rankings

The Unemployment Rate quantifies the share of the labor force that remains without work while actively searching for jobs. It highlights economic challenges and the health of labor markets, serving as a key sign of employment conditions (lower is better)

Latest (2024)
8.4 %
Year-over-year
+0.0 %
Change since start (1991→2024)
-0.5 %

Key insights

  • From 1991 to 2024, Unemployment Rate changed by -0.5 %.
  • Most recent year-over-year change (2023→2024): +0.0 %.
  • Lowest level: 6.3 % in 2011.
  • Highest level: 16.7 % in 2003.

Unemployment Rate Chart (1991–2024)

*Average based on available data from 193 UN member countries

Unemployment Rate Table (1991–2024)

Unemployment Rate — Uruguay
Year Unemployment Rate
1991 9.0 %
1992 9.0 %
1993 8.4 %
1994 9.0 %
1995 10.0 %
1996 11.9 %
1997 11.4 %
1998 9.4 %
1999 10.5 %
2000 12.6 %
2001 15.1 %
2002 16.6 %
2003 16.7 %
2004 13.0 %
2005 12.0 %
2006 10.8 %
2007 9.4 %
2008 8.0 %
2009 7.7 %
2010 7.2 %
2011 6.3 %
2012 6.5 %
2013 6.4 %
2014 6.5 %
2015 7.5 %
2016 7.8 %
2017 7.9 %
2018 8.3 %
2019 8.8 %
2020 10.4 %
2021 9.3 %
2022 7.9 %
2023 8.4 %
2024 8.4 %

Source: World Bank

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