Guatemala Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Guatemala's unemployment rate was 2.60% in 2025, ranked 26th globally. This represents a 0.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Guatemala's unemployment rate stood at 2.60% in 2025, a decline of +0.01pp from 2024. Guatemala ranked 26th globally.
Guatemala’s unemployment rate has hovered at a historically low level, reaching 2.60 % in 2025, which places the country 26th globally according to World Bank data. Over the 35‑year series the rate has moved within a narrow band, rising from a trough of 2.11 % in 1999 to an all‑time peak of 3.50 % in 2010 before settling near the current figure. The modest increase since the 1990s contrasts with the slightly higher rates observed in peer economies such as Papua New Guinea (2.57 %) and Mexico (2.67 %). The persistence of low unemployment reflects a combination of informal sector absorption and limited labor‑market rigidity, yet it also masks underemployment and sectoral mismatches. Continued demographic growth and modest productivity gains suggest that the unemployment rate is likely to remain low in the near term, unless external shocks or structural reforms significantly alter labor‑market dynamics.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.60% | −0.01pp | #26 |
| 2024 | 2.61% | +0.27pp | #27 |
| 2023 | 2.34% | −0.71pp | #24 |
| 2022 | 3.05% | +0.88pp | #38 |
| 2021 | 2.17% | −0.79pp | #16 |
| 2020 | 2.97% | +0.77pp | #28 |
| 2019 | 2.19% | −0.09pp | #21 |
| 2018 | 2.28% | −0.18pp | #23 |
| 2017 | 2.46% | −0.12pp | #23 |
| 2016 | 2.58% | +0.08pp | #24 |
| 2015 | 2.51% | −0.21pp | #25 |
| 2014 | 2.72% | −0.30pp | #29 |
| 2013 | 3.02% | +0.25pp | #31 |
| 2012 | 2.77% | −0.40pp | #26 |
| 2011 | 3.17% | −0.33pp | #30 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guatemala matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Guatemala's unemployment rate was 2.60% in 2025. Ranked 26th globally. This represents a 0.3% decrease from the previous year.
Guatemala's unemployment rate peaked at 3.50% in 2010.
The lowest unemployment rate in Guatemala was 2.11% in 1999.
Guatemala ranks 26th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Guatemala in 2025 was 2.60%. This ranks 26th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guatemala_unemployment-rate,
title = {Guatemala Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guatemala/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}