New Caledonia Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
New Caledonia's unemployment rate was 11.17% in 2025, ranked 152nd globally. This represents a 1.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
New Caledonia's unemployment rate stood at 11.17% in 2025, a rise of +0.18pp from 2024. New Caledonia ranked 152nd globally.
New Caledonia’s unemployment rate has fallen markedly over the past three decades, descending from an all‑time peak of 18.88 % in 1994 to a trough of 10.71 % in 2022, before edging slightly higher to 11.17 % in 2025, which places the territory at rank 152 globally. The long‑term decline reflects structural adjustments in the mining and services sectors, alongside targeted labour‑market programmes that have gradually reduced joblessness among the island’s 35‑year data series. Nonetheless, the modest uptick since 2022 suggests renewed pressures, possibly from global commodity price volatility and limited diversification of the export base. When compared with peers of similar rank, New Caledonia’s rate is close to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 11.04 % and Rwanda’s 11.36 %, indicating that its labour market performance now aligns with other economies facing comparable structural challenges. Continued investment in skill development and the expansion of non‑extractive industries will be crucial to sustain the downward trajectory and prevent a reversal of recent gains.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11.17% | +0.18pp | #152 |
| 2024 | 10.99% | +0.07pp | #156 |
| 2023 | 10.92% | +0.21pp | #154 |
| 2022 | 10.71% | −0.86pp | #152 |
| 2021 | 11.57% | −1.98pp | #150 |
| 2020 | 13.56% | +2.68pp | #156 |
| 2019 | 10.88% | −0.82pp | #151 |
| 2018 | 11.70% | +0.03pp | #154 |
| 2017 | 11.68% | −1.00pp | #153 |
| 2016 | 12.68% | −0.94pp | #157 |
| 2015 | 13.62% | −0.97pp | #161 |
| 2014 | 14.59% | +0.20pp | #164 |
| 2013 | 14.39% | +0.27pp | #161 |
| 2012 | 14.12% | +0.13pp | #162 |
| 2011 | 13.99% | −0.01pp | #160 |
Analysis
New Caledonia's unemployment rate was 11.17% in 2025, a rise of +0.18pp from 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Caledonia's unemployment rate was 11.17% in 2025. Ranked 152nd globally. This represents a 1.7% increase from the previous year.
New Caledonia's unemployment rate peaked at 18.88% in 1994.
The lowest unemployment rate in New Caledonia was 10.71% in 2022.
New Caledonia ranks 152nd 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 New Caledonia in 2025 was 11.17%. This ranks 152nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-caledonia_unemployment-rate,
title = {New Caledonia Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-caledonia/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}