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Singapore Unemployment Rate

Unemployment as % of total labor force  SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS

2.82% +0.87pp (+44.5%)
Year 2025 Rank #33 Global Peak 6.28% (1982) Source World Bank

Singapore Unemployment Rate (1980–2025)

Overview

Singapore's unemployment rate stood at 2.82% in 2025, a rise of +0.87pp from 2024. The IMF projects 2.09% by 2025. Singapore ranked 33rd globally.

Data & projection

Year Unemployment Rate YoY change Rank
2030* IMF 2.10% - -
2029* IMF 2.10% - -
2028* IMF 2.10% - -
2027* IMF 2.09% - -
2026* IMF 2.09% - -
2025* IMF 2.09% - -
2025 2.82% +0.87pp #33
2024 2.74% +0.81pp #32
2023 3.44% +1.34pp #55
2022 3.59% +0.94pp #54
2021 4.64% +1.64pp #61
2020 4.10% +1.85pp #46
2019 3.10% +1.00pp #39
2018 3.61% +1.44pp #51
2017 4.20% +2.13pp #64
2016 4.08% +2.18pp #52
2015 3.79% +1.84pp #48
2014 3.74% +1.84pp #48
2013 3.86% +1.91pp #51
2012 3.72% +1.70pp #47
2011 3.89% +1.72pp #50
Show all years (1980-2025)
* IMF World Economic Outlook projection

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +14.9% GDP growth 9.8% C/A balance 19.8%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Singapore matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Singapore's unemployment rate?

Singapore's unemployment rate was 2.82% in 2025. Ranked 33rd globally. This represents a 44.5% increase from the previous year.

What was the highest unemployment rate in Singapore?

Singapore's unemployment rate peaked at 6.28% in 1982.

What was the lowest unemployment rate in Singapore?

The lowest unemployment rate in Singapore was 1.78% in 1989.

How does Singapore rank in unemployment rate?

Singapore ranks 33rd globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for unemployment rate?

The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected unemployment rate of Singapore in 2025?

Singapore's unemployment rate is projected to reach 2.09% by 2025 based on IMF projection.

What is the unemployment rate of Singapore in 2025?

The unemployment rate of Singapore in 2025 was 2.82%. This ranks 33rd in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Singapore Unemployment Rate. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 1, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/singapore/unemployment-rate
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_singapore_unemployment-rate, title = {Singapore Unemployment Rate}, url = {https://historysaid.com/singapore/unemployment-rate}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }