Turkmenistan Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Turkmenistan's unemployment rate was 4.27% in 2025, ranked 71st globally. This represents a 6.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Turkmenistan's unemployment rate stood at 4.27% in 2025, a rise of +0.25pp from 2024. Turkmenistan ranked 71st globally.
Turkmenistan’s unemployment rate has risen steadily since the early 1990s, moving from a trough of 1.40 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 12.70 % in 1999, before settling at 4.27 % in 2025, which places the country 71st globally. The post‑Soviet transition period saw the sharp increase in the late 1990s, reflecting deep structural adjustments and the contraction of state‑run enterprises. Over the subsequent two decades the rate fell gradually, mirroring modest diversification of the economy and limited private‑sector growth, yet it remains marginally above the United States’ 4.20 % and close to India’s 4.22 % as of the same year. The 35‑year coverage indicates that the labor market has not returned to the low levels of the early transition era, suggesting that further reforms in vocational training and foreign investment could be decisive in lowering unemployment further.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4.27% | +0.25pp | #71 |
| 2024 | 4.02% | +0.01pp | #71 |
| 2023 | 4.01% | −0.01pp | #73 |
| 2022 | 4.02% | −0.44pp | #68 |
| 2021 | 4.46% | −0.03pp | #56 |
| 2020 | 4.49% | +0.45pp | #57 |
| 2019 | 4.04% | −0.00pp | #64 |
| 2018 | 4.04% | +0.00pp | #63 |
| 2017 | 4.04% | +0.01pp | #57 |
| 2016 | 4.03% | +0.01pp | #51 |
| 2015 | 4.02% | +0.01pp | #52 |
| 2014 | 4.01% | +0.01pp | #52 |
| 2013 | 3.99% | −0.00pp | #54 |
| 2012 | 3.99% | −0.01pp | #58 |
| 2011 | 4.00% | +0.00pp | #53 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Turkmenistan matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2002. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Turkmenistan's unemployment rate was 4.27% in 2025. Ranked 71st globally. This represents a 6.1% increase from the previous year.
Turkmenistan's unemployment rate peaked at 12.70% in 1999.
The lowest unemployment rate in Turkmenistan was 1.40% in 1991.
Turkmenistan ranks 71st 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 Turkmenistan in 2025 was 4.27%. This ranks 71st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_turkmenistan_unemployment-rate,
title = {Turkmenistan Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/turkmenistan/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}