Ecuador Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Ecuador's unemployment rate was 3.31% in 2025, ranked 52nd globally. This represents a 2.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1988–2025.
Overview
Ecuador's unemployment rate stood at 3.31% in 2025, a decline of +0.07pp from 2024. The IMF projects 4.00% by 2025. Ecuador ranked 52nd globally.
Ecuador’s unemployment rate has fallen sharply over the past three decades, declining from a peak of 7.90 % in 1989 to a trough of 3.08 % in 2013 and reaching 3.31 % in 2025, placing the country 52nd globally. The downward trajectory began in the early 1990s as market‑oriented reforms reduced labor market rigidities, and it accelerated after the 2008‑09 global financial crisis when fiscal stimulus and public works programmes absorbed idle workers. Over the 38‑year span, the average rate has hovered around the low‑single‑digit range, comparable to regional peers such as El Salvador (3.30 %) and Trinidad and Tobago (3.33 %). The modest rise from the 2013 trough suggests a degree of cyclical sensitivity, yet the current level remains near historic lows. Continued diversification of export markets and investment in vocational training could sustain the downward bias, while external shocks or policy reversals would be required to reverse the trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 3.50% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 3.50% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 3.50% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 3.60% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 3.80% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 4.00% | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.31% | −0.07pp | #52 |
| 2024 | 3.45% | −0.12pp | #56 |
| 2023 | 3.51% | −0.29pp | #60 |
| 2022 | 3.71% | −0.97pp | #58 |
| 2021 | 4.50% | −0.84pp | #57 |
| 2020 | 6.12% | +2.28pp | #92 |
| 2019 | 3.81% | +0.12pp | #61 |
| 2018 | 3.53% | −1.09pp | #49 |
| 2017 | 3.84% | −1.37pp | #54 |
| 2016 | 4.60% | −0.17pp | #66 |
| 2015 | 3.62% | −0.18pp | #45 |
| 2014 | 3.48% | −0.67pp | #41 |
| 2013 | 3.08% | −1.04pp | #33 |
| 2012 | 3.24% | −0.98pp | #33 |
| 2011 | 3.46% | −1.56pp | #38 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ecuador matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ecuador's unemployment rate was 3.31% in 2025. Ranked 52nd globally. This represents a 2.1% decrease from the previous year.
Ecuador's unemployment rate peaked at 7.90% in 1989.
The lowest unemployment rate in Ecuador was 3.08% in 2013.
Ecuador ranks 52nd globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ecuador's unemployment rate is projected to reach 4.00% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Ecuador in 2025 was 3.31%. This ranks 52nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ecuador_unemployment-rate,
title = {Ecuador Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ecuador/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}