Guyana Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Guyana's unemployment rate was 11.96% in 2025, ranked 158th globally. This represents a 0.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Guyana's unemployment rate stood at 11.96% in 2025, a rise of +0.09pp from 2024. Guyana ranked 158th globally.
Guyana’s unemployment rate stood at 11.96 % in 2025, placing the country 158th in the global ranking according to World Bank data. Over the 35‑year series, the rate has shown modest fluctuation, rising from a 1991 level of 12.09 % to an all‑time peak of 15.31 % in 2020, a year marked by the COVID‑19 pandemic and a sharp contraction in the extractive sector. The lowest point occurred in 2006 at 10.70 %, reflecting a period of robust agricultural output and modest diversification. Compared with peers of similar rank, Guyana’s unemployment is marginally higher than Cabo Verde’s 11.94 % and slightly lower than Georgia’s 12.10 %, underscoring comparable labour market pressures in small, resource‑dependent economies. Continued investment in value‑added processing and renewable energy could temper future joblessness, while any resurgence in commodity prices is likely to reinforce the current downward trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11.96% | +0.09pp | #158 |
| 2024 | 11.87% | −0.04pp | #163 |
| 2023 | 11.92% | +0.01pp | #162 |
| 2022 | 11.91% | −2.67pp | #158 |
| 2021 | 14.58% | −0.73pp | #163 |
| 2020 | 15.31% | +2.14pp | #164 |
| 2019 | 13.17% | −0.46pp | #164 |
| 2018 | 13.63% | +0.16pp | #167 |
| 2017 | 13.47% | +0.20pp | #163 |
| 2016 | 13.26% | +0.25pp | #162 |
| 2015 | 13.01% | +0.37pp | #158 |
| 2014 | 12.64% | +0.34pp | #155 |
| 2013 | 12.30% | +0.27pp | #150 |
| 2012 | 12.03% | +0.22pp | #145 |
| 2011 | 11.81% | +0.18pp | #147 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Guyana 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
Guyana's unemployment rate was 11.96% in 2025. Ranked 158th globally. This represents a 0.7% increase from the previous year.
Guyana's unemployment rate peaked at 15.31% in 2020.
The lowest unemployment rate in Guyana was 10.70% in 2006.
Guyana ranks 158th 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 Guyana in 2025 was 11.96%. This ranks 158th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_guyana_unemployment-rate,
title = {Guyana Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/guyana/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}