Russian Federation Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Russian Federation's unemployment rate was 2.13% in 2025, ranked 18th globally. This represents a 15.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Russian Federation's unemployment rate stood at 2.13% in 2025, a decline of +0.38pp from 2024. The IMF projects 2.40% by 2025. Russian Federation ranked 18th globally.
Russia's unemployment rate has demonstrated significant fluctuations over the past 35 years, with the all-time peak occurring in 1998 at 13.26%. This was a period of economic turmoil following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which had a profound impact on the Russian labor market. In contrast, the current unemployment rate stands at 2.13%, a level not seen since the data began. This is comparable to countries like Tonga and Kuwait, which also boast low unemployment rates. As Russia's economy continues to diversify, driven in part by its growing energy sector, the unemployment rate is likely to remain low. However, a significant shift in global commodity prices or a major economic downturn could potentially alter this trajectory, potentially driving up unemployment rates once again.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 4.40% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 4.30% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 4.20% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 3.97% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 3.13% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 2.40% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.13% | −0.38pp | #18 |
| 2024 | 2.43% | −0.74pp | #24 |
| 2023 | 3.08% | −0.87pp | #47 |
| 2022 | 3.87% | −0.97pp | #64 |
| 2021 | 4.75% | −1.02pp | #63 |
| 2020 | 5.62% | +1.02pp | #81 |
| 2019 | 4.51% | −0.29pp | #76 |
| 2018 | 4.87% | −0.33pp | #83 |
| 2017 | 5.24% | −0.29pp | #87 |
| 2016 | 5.59% | +0.02pp | #88 |
| 2015 | 5.62% | +0.46pp | #86 |
| 2014 | 5.21% | −0.29pp | #79 |
| 2013 | 5.51% | +0.06pp | #81 |
| 2012 | 5.48% | −1.02pp | #82 |
| 2011 | 6.57% | −0.79pp | #94 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Russian Federation matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Russian Federation's unemployment rate was 2.13% in 2025. Ranked 18th globally. This represents a 15.0% decrease from the previous year.
Russian Federation's unemployment rate peaked at 13.26% in 1998.
The lowest unemployment rate in Russian Federation was 2.13% in 2025.
Russian Federation ranks 18th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Russian Federation's unemployment rate is projected to reach 2.40% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Russian Federation in 2025 was 2.13%. This ranks 18th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_russian-federation_unemployment-rate,
title = {Russian Federation Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/russian-federation/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}