South Korea Unemployment Rate 1991-2024

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
  • South Korea unemployment rate for 2023 was 2.64%, a 0.22% decline from 2022.
  • South Korea unemployment rate for 2022 was 2.86%, a 0.78% decline from 2021.
  • South Korea unemployment rate for 2021 was 3.64%, a 0.29% decline from 2020.
  • South Korea unemployment rate for 2020 was 3.93%, a 0.19% increase from 2019.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Unemployment Rate (%)
Spain 12.14%
Virgin Islands (U.S.) 12.09%
French Polynesia 11.72%
New Caledonia 11.22%
Greece 11.00%
Bahamas 9.20%
Chile 9.04%
Uruguay 8.35%
Barbados 7.95%
Italy 7.62%
Sweden 7.59%
France 7.32%
Finland 7.16%
Lithuania 6.96%
Panama 6.70%
Latvia 6.53%
Portugal 6.49%
Estonia 6.35%
Argentina 6.18%
Croatia 6.06%
Channel Islands 5.98%
Cyprus 5.96%
Puerto Rico 5.96%
Slovak Republic 5.84%
Belgium 5.51%
Guam 5.42%
Canada 5.37%
Brunei 5.27%
Austria 5.24%
Luxembourg 5.19%
Denmark 5.14%
Saudi Arabia 4.88%
Ireland 4.34%
Trinidad and Tobago 4.21%
Hungary 4.13%
United Kingdom 4.06%
Switzerland 4.05%
Hong Kong 3.93%
New Zealand 3.74%
Australia 3.67%
Slovenia 3.63%
United States 3.63%
Norway 3.58%
Iceland 3.56%
Netherlands 3.56%
Singapore 3.47%
Israel 3.39%
Malta 3.13%
Germany 3.05%
Poland 2.91%
UAE 2.71%
South Korea 2.64%
Czech Republic 2.59%
Japan 2.58%
Macao 2.25%
Kuwait 2.08%
Oman 1.46%
Bahrain 1.16%
Qatar 0.13%
South Korea Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year Unemployment Rate (%) Annual Change
2023 2.64% -0.22%
2022 2.86% -0.78%
2021 3.64% -0.29%
2020 3.93% 0.19%
2019 3.75% -0.08%
2018 3.82% 0.17%
2017 3.65% 0.00%
2016 3.65% 0.10%
2015 3.55% 0.46%
2014 3.08% 0.34%
2013 2.75% -0.07%
2012 2.81% -0.18%
2011 2.99% -0.33%
2010 3.32% -0.04%
2009 3.36% 0.40%
2008 2.96% -0.05%
2007 3.01% -0.24%
2006 3.25% -0.23%
2005 3.48% 0.06%
2004 3.42% 0.07%
2003 3.35% 0.30%
2002 3.05% -0.65%
2001 3.70% -0.36%
2000 4.06% -2.28%
1999 6.34% -0.62%
1998 6.96% 4.36%
1997 2.61% 0.56%
1996 2.05% -0.02%
1995 2.06% -0.41%
1994 2.48% -0.40%
1993 2.88% 0.37%
1992 2.51% 0.11%
1991 2.41% 0.11%