EU: Unemployment Rate, by country
CountryUnemployment rate,
in %
SpainSpain11.5
GreeceGreece10.9
SwedenSweden7.6
EstoniaEstonia7.6
ItalyItaly7.3
FranceFrance7.3
FinlandFinland7.2
CroatiaCroatia6.9
CyprusCyprus6.6
LatviaLatvia6.6
Euro areaEuro area6.4
PortugalPortugal6.2
LithuaniaLithuania6.1
EU 27EU 275.9
SlovakiaSlovakia5.8
BelgiumBelgium5.5
RomaniaRomania5.4
AustriaAustria5.3
LuxembourgLuxembourg5.3
BulgariaBulgaria4.5
DenmarkDenmark4.4
IrelandIreland4.1
HungaryHungary4.0
NetherlandsNetherlands3.6
SloveniaSlovenia3.5
GermanyGermany3.0
PolandPoland2.8
MaltaMalta2.7
CzechiaCzechia2.5
  • Region: EU
  • Time period: August 2023
  • Published: October 2023

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Mar 27, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Highest Unemployment Rate

Spain and Greece exhibit the highest unemployment rates within the EU, standing at 11.5% and 10.9% respectively, significantly surpassing the EU average of 5.9%.

Lowest Unemployment Rate

Czechia, Malta, and Poland boast the lowest unemployment figures, with Czechia leading at a mere 2.5%, followed closely by Malta and Poland with rates of 2.7% and 2.8% respectively.

Comparison with EU Average

A total of 14 countries have unemployment rates below the EU 27 average of 5.9%, indicating a diverse economic landscape where more than half of the member states perform better than the average.

Euro Area Versus EU Average

The unemployment rate in the Euro area is slightly higher at 6.4% compared to the EU 27 average, suggesting that countries using the euro might face more significant unemployment challenges.

Unemployment Rates Close to EU Average

Several countries, including Slovakia, Belgium, and Romania, exhibit unemployment rates just below the EU average, with figures of 5.8%, 5.5%, and 5.4% respectively, highlighting a group of countries on the cusp of the EU average.

Unemployment Rate Range

The unemployment rate across the EU spans from a low of 2.5% in Czechia to a high of 11.5% in Spain, illustrating a wide range of 9%, which underscores the economic diversity within the Union.

Northern and Southern Europe Disparity

Countries in Southern Europe, such as Spain, Greece, and Italy, generally report higher unemployment rates, while Northern and Central European countries like Germany, Poland, and Czechia show lower rates, indicating a geographical disparity in economic health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries have the highest unemployment rates in the EU?

Spain and Greece have the highest unemployment rates in the EU with 11.5% and 10.9% respectively.

Which country has the lowest unemployment rate in the EU?

Czechia has the lowest unemployment rate in the EU at 2.5%.

How does the average unemployment rate in EU 27 compare to that of the Euro area?

The average unemployment rate for EU 27 is 5.9%, which is lower than the 6.4% average for the Euro area.

How many countries have unemployment rates below 3%?

Only three countries, Poland, Malta, and Czechia have unemployment rates below 3%.

Terms and Definitions

Unemployment refers to the state of being jobless or the situation in which individuals who are able and willing to work cannot find employment.

Unemployment rate is a measure of the prevalence of unemployment in a country. It is often presented as a percent figure and is typically calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by the total number of people in the labor force.

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of a group of European countries that cooperate and function under shared sovereignty, economy, and political systems.

Member states refer to the countries that are members of a specific international organization. In this term’s context, it refers to the nations that are members of the European Union (EU).

The labor force is the total number of people in a country who are either employed or actively looking for work. It does not include individuals who are retired, studying, or incapable of working.

Seasonal unemployment refers to the type of unemployment that arises due to changes in the seasons. It affects industries like agriculture, tourism, and construction, which usually ramp up or down their operations depending on the time of the year.

Structural unemployment refers to the type of unemployment resulting from industrial reorganization or technological changes, usually caused by mismatches between the skills held by unemployed workers and the skills required for existing job openings.

Cyclical unemployment is unemployment that results from fluctuations in the economic business cycle. It increases during periods of economic recession and decreases during periods of economic expansion.
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