United States Highest Unemployment Rate

9.71% in 1982
Unemployment as % of total labor force · World Bank

The highest unemployment rate in United States was 9.71% in 1982. The top 5 years were: 1982 (9.71%), 2010 (9.63%), 1983 (9.60%), 2009 (9.25%), 2011 (8.95%).

Top 5 Highest Years
United States Top 5 Highest Unemployment Rate Years
RankYearValue
1st 1982 9.71%
2nd 2010 9.63%
3rd 1983 9.60%
4th 2009 9.25%
5th 2011 8.95%
All Data (sorted by value)
YearValueChangeRank
2010 9.63% +0.35pp 132nd
2009 9.25% +3.45pp 130th
1983 9.60% −0.11pp 33rd
1982 9.71% +2.09pp 32nd
2020 8.06% +4.38pp 122nd
2012 8.07% −0.86pp 118th
2011 8.95% −0.66pp 128th
2013 7.38% −0.70pp 108th
1993 6.90% −0.59pp 96th
1992 7.50% +0.65pp 108th
1991 6.80% +1.18pp 103rd
1985 7.19% −0.32pp 30th
1984 7.51% −2.09pp 26th
1981 7.62% +0.44pp 29th
1980 7.18% 28th
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