Timor-Leste Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Timor-Leste's unemployment rate was 1.59% in 2025, ranked 14th globally. This represents a 4.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Timor-Leste's unemployment rate stood at 1.59% in 2025, a rise of +0.07pp from 2024. Timor-Leste ranked 14th globally.
Timor‑Leste’s unemployment rate has fallen sharply over the 35‑year series, descending from 3.45 % in 1991 to a historic trough of 1.52 % in 2024 and reaching 1.59 % in 2025, which places the nation at rank 14 globally. The all‑time peak of 4.66 % occurred in 2016, a period marked by post‑conflict reconstruction and limited private‑sector capacity, after which gradual diversification of agriculture, modest growth in services and targeted vocational programmes contributed to a sustained decline. By comparison, peer economies such as Tanzania (1.57 %) and Benin (1.59 %) exhibit similarly low unemployment levels, reflecting broader regional trends toward informal employment and demographic shifts. The continued reduction in joblessness suggests that ongoing infrastructure investment and expansion of export‑oriented industries could keep the rate near its current low, although a slowdown in foreign aid or a resurgence of political instability would likely reverse the trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.59% | +0.07pp | #14 |
| 2024 | 1.52% | −0.00pp | #12 |
| 2023 | 1.53% | −0.01pp | #11 |
| 2022 | 1.54% | −0.81pp | #11 |
| 2021 | 2.34% | −0.46pp | #19 |
| 2020 | 2.81% | −0.34pp | #22 |
| 2019 | 3.15% | −0.62pp | #40 |
| 2018 | 3.77% | −0.49pp | #53 |
| 2017 | 4.25% | −0.40pp | #65 |
| 2016 | 4.66% | +0.98pp | #68 |
| 2015 | 3.68% | +0.06pp | #46 |
| 2014 | 3.62% | +0.05pp | #47 |
| 2013 | 3.57% | +0.10pp | #44 |
| 2012 | 3.47% | +0.09pp | #39 |
| 2011 | 3.39% | +0.08pp | #35 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Timor-Leste 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
Timor-Leste's unemployment rate was 1.59% in 2025. Ranked 14th globally. This represents a 4.5% increase from the previous year.
Timor-Leste's unemployment rate peaked at 4.66% in 2016.
The lowest unemployment rate in Timor-Leste was 1.52% in 2024.
Timor-Leste ranks 14th 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 Timor-Leste in 2025 was 1.59%. This ranks 14th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_timor-leste_unemployment-rate,
title = {Timor-Leste Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/timor-leste/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}