Latvia Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Latvia's unemployment rate was 6.57% in 2025, ranked 119th globally. This represents a 5.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Latvia's unemployment rate stood at 6.57% in 2025, a decline of +0.36pp from 2024. The IMF projects 6.70% by 2025. Latvia ranked 119th globally.
Latvia’s unemployment rate has risen from a post‑Soviet trough of 2.70 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 20.70 % during the 1996 economic shock, before gradually declining to 6.57 % in 2025, placing the country 119th globally. The 35‑year series shows a pronounced V‑shaped pattern, with the steepest ascent occurring in the mid‑1990s as the transition to a market economy triggered massive job losses, and a sustained contraction thereafter as structural reforms and EU integration fostered labor market flexibility. By 2025 Latvia’s rate is marginally above peers such as Barbados (6.52 %) and Mozambique (6.63 %), reflecting comparable performance among small open economies. The modest upward drift from the early 2020s suggests that further reductions will depend on continued investment in digital skills and the absorption capacity of the services sector, which could help steer the unemployment trajectory lower in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 6.40% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 6.49% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 6.53% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 6.57% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 6.61% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 6.70% | - | - |
| 2025 | 6.57% | −0.36pp | #119 |
| 2024 | 6.90% | +0.39pp | #128 |
| 2023 | 6.47% | −0.39pp | #122 |
| 2022 | 6.82% | −0.74pp | #127 |
| 2021 | 7.51% | −0.59pp | #119 |
| 2020 | 8.10% | +1.79pp | #123 |
| 2019 | 6.31% | −1.10pp | #113 |
| 2018 | 7.41% | −1.30pp | #123 |
| 2017 | 8.72% | −0.93pp | #131 |
| 2016 | 9.64% | −0.23pp | #136 |
| 2015 | 9.87% | −0.97pp | #137 |
| 2014 | 10.85% | −1.02pp | #143 |
| 2013 | 11.87% | −3.18pp | #147 |
| 2012 | 15.05% | −1.16pp | #164 |
| 2011 | 16.21% | −3.27pp | #168 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Latvia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2017. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Latvia's unemployment rate was 6.57% in 2025. Ranked 119th globally. This represents a 5.2% decrease from the previous year.
Latvia's unemployment rate peaked at 20.70% in 1996.
The lowest unemployment rate in Latvia was 2.70% in 1991.
Latvia ranks 119th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Latvia's unemployment rate is projected to reach 6.70% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Latvia in 2025 was 6.57%. This ranks 119th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_latvia_unemployment-rate,
title = {Latvia Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/latvia/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}