Italy Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Italy's unemployment rate was 6.39% in 2025, ranked 116th globally. This represents a 2.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
Italy's unemployment rate stood at 6.39% in 2025, a decline of +0.18pp from 2024. The IMF projects 6.65% by 2025. Italy ranked 116th globally.
Italy’s unemployment rate in 2025 stands at 6.39 %, placing the country 116th globally, a modest improvement from the 7.37 % recorded in 1980 and well below the all‑time peak of 12.68 % reached in 2014 during the post‑crisis recovery. The trough of 6.08 % observed in 2007, just before the global financial shock, highlights how the labor market has struggled to return to pre‑crisis lows despite a gradual decline since the peak. Compared with peer nations of similar rank, Italy’s rate is slightly higher than Luxembourg’s 6.34 % and comparable to the Gambia’s 6.52 %, underscoring a relatively competitive position within the lower‑middle range of global unemployment. Structural reforms, demographic shifts and the pace of digitalisation will be pivotal in shaping whether Italy can sustain the downward trajectory and approach the early‑2000s trough in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 6.81% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 6.84% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 6.87% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 6.80% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 6.72% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 6.65% | - | - |
| 2025 | 6.39% | −0.18pp | #116 |
| 2024 | 6.50% | −1.18pp | #122 |
| 2023 | 7.63% | −0.49pp | #134 |
| 2022 | 8.07% | −1.46pp | #135 |
| 2021 | 9.50% | +0.13pp | #137 |
| 2020 | 9.19% | −0.72pp | #133 |
| 2019 | 9.88% | −0.72pp | #144 |
| 2018 | 10.54% | −0.76pp | #147 |
| 2017 | 11.21% | −0.51pp | #150 |
| 2016 | 11.69% | −0.33pp | #149 |
| 2015 | 11.90% | −0.89pp | #152 |
| 2014 | 12.68% | +0.32pp | #156 |
| 2013 | 12.15% | +1.26pp | #149 |
| 2012 | 10.66% | +2.08pp | #137 |
| 2011 | 8.36% | −0.14pp | #123 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Italy matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 1986. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
The news citing unemployment as a cause for social unrest in France underscores the importance of labor market stability in European economies, a context relevant to Italy's 6.39% unemployment rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Italy's unemployment rate was 6.39% in 2025. Ranked 116th globally. This represents a 2.7% decrease from the previous year.
Italy's unemployment rate peaked at 12.68% in 2014.
The lowest unemployment rate in Italy was 6.08% in 2007.
Italy ranks 116th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Italy's unemployment rate is projected to reach 6.65% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Italy in 2025 was 6.39%. This ranks 116th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_italy_unemployment-rate,
title = {Italy Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/italy/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}