Lebanon Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Lebanon's unemployment rate was 10.99% in 2023, ranked 155th globally. This represents a 5.3% decrease from 2022. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2023.
Overview
Lebanon's unemployment rate stood at 10.99% in 2023, a decline of +0.62pp from 2022. Lebanon ranked 155th globally.
Lebanon’s unemployment rate stood at 10.98 % in 2023, placing the country 155th in the World Bank ranking and marginally above New Caledonia’s 10.92 % and just below Greece’s 11.02 % for the same year. The labour market has widened considerably since the early 1990s, when the rate was 8.59 %, and it reached an all‑time peak of 13.25 % in 2020 amid the combined shocks of the COVID‑19 pandemic and a severe financial crisis. The lowest point since 1991 occurred in 2009, when unemployment fell to 6.36 %, reflecting a brief period of relative stability before the subsequent downturn. Over the 33‑year coverage, the upward trajectory suggests persistent structural challenges, although modest improvements in macro‑economic reforms and targeted job‑creation programs could temper the rise and steer the rate toward a more sustainable level in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10.99% | −0.62pp | #155 |
| 2022 | 11.11% | −1.56pp | #154 |
| 2021 | 12.72% | −0.57pp | #156 |
| 2020 | 13.25% | +1.95pp | #155 |
| 2019 | 11.30% | +0.56pp | #154 |
| 2018 | 10.76% | +0.50pp | #149 |
| 2017 | 10.26% | +0.47pp | #142 |
| 2016 | 9.79% | +0.49pp | #139 |
| 2015 | 9.31% | +0.48pp | #133 |
| 2014 | 8.84% | +0.38pp | #128 |
| 2013 | 8.48% | +0.54pp | #122 |
| 2012 | 7.95% | +0.60pp | #114 |
| 2011 | 7.35% | +0.58pp | #105 |
| 2010 | 6.77% | +0.41pp | #93 |
| 2009 | 6.36% | −1.31pp | #89 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Lebanon matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2023. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Lebanon's unemployment rate was 10.99% in 2023. Ranked 155th globally. This represents a 5.3% decrease from the previous year.
Lebanon's unemployment rate peaked at 13.25% in 2020.
The lowest unemployment rate in Lebanon was 6.36% in 2009.
Lebanon ranks 155th globally in unemployment rate as of 2023.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Lebanon in 2023 was 10.99%. This ranks 155th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_lebanon_unemployment-rate,
title = {Lebanon Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/lebanon/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}