Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate 1991-2023

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
  • Saudi Arabia unemployment rate for 2021 was 7.36%, a 0.09% decline from 2020.
  • Saudi Arabia unemployment rate for 2020 was 7.45%, a 1.78% increase from 2019.
  • Saudi Arabia unemployment rate for 2019 was 5.67%, a 0.37% decline from 2018.
  • Saudi Arabia unemployment rate for 2018 was 6.04%, a 0.15% increase from 2017.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Unemployment Rate (%)
New Caledonia 16.57%
Greece 14.80%
Spain 14.73%
French Polynesia 14.39%
Virgin Islands (U.S.) 13.27%
Bahamas 13.24%
Panama 12.09%
Argentina 10.90%
Uruguay 10.45%
Barbados 10.41%
Italy 9.83%
Chile 9.13%
Croatia 8.68%
Sweden 8.66%
Puerto Rico 8.27%
France 8.06%
Lithuania 7.90%
Brunei 7.65%
Latvia 7.60%
Finland 7.53%
Canada 7.51%
Channel Islands 7.37%
Saudi Arabia 7.36%
Guam 6.98%
Slovak Republic 6.74%
Portugal 6.65%
Ireland 6.63%
Belgium 6.42%
Estonia 6.33%
Austria 6.30%
Cyprus 6.13%
United States 5.46%
Iceland 5.40%
Switzerland 5.32%
Hong Kong 5.32%
Luxembourg 5.23%
Australia 5.11%
Israel 5.05%
Norway 4.99%
Trinidad and Tobago 4.81%
Denmark 4.80%
United Kingdom 4.53%
Slovenia 4.42%
New Zealand 4.12%
Hungary 4.12%
Netherlands 4.01%
Kuwait 3.71%
Singapore 3.62%
Germany 3.54%
South Korea 3.53%
Malta 3.50%
Poland 3.37%
UAE 3.36%
Oman 3.12%
Macao 3.01%
Czech Republic 2.89%
Japan 2.80%
Bahrain 1.87%
Qatar 0.26%
Saudi Arabia Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year Unemployment Rate (%) Annual Change
2021 7.36% -0.09%
2020 7.45% 1.78%
2019 5.67% -0.37%
2018 6.04% 0.15%
2017 5.89% 0.24%
2016 5.65% 0.06%
2015 5.59% -0.13%
2014 5.72% 0.15%
2013 5.57% 0.05%
2012 5.52% -0.25%
2011 5.77% 0.22%
2010 5.55% 0.17%
2009 5.38% 0.30%
2008 5.08% -0.65%
2007 5.73% -0.52%
2006 6.25% 0.20%
2005 6.05% 0.23%
2004 5.82% 0.26%
2003 5.56% 0.29%
2002 5.27% 0.65%
2001 4.62% 0.05%
2000 4.57% 0.22%
1999 4.35% -0.37%
1998 4.72% -0.43%
1997 5.15% -0.40%
1996 5.56% -0.44%
1995 6.00% -0.41%
1994 6.41% -0.44%
1993 6.85% -0.35%
1992 7.20% 0.13%
1991 7.07% 0.13%