Libya: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Libya's unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) fell 0.39 percentage points on 2024 (from 15.84% to 15.45%).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −0.03 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.28 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 0.63 percentage points in 2020 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.7 percentage points in 2022. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 20% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Libya had the 10th highest value of the 182 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Libya in the 2025 ranking

• Congo, Rep. — 7th of 182: 18.69%
• Somalia, Fed. Rep. — 8th of 182: 16.43%
• Yemen, Rep. — 9th of 182: 16.34%
• Jordan — 11th of 182: 14.91%
• Lesotho — 12th of 182: 14.65%
• Gabon — 13th of 182: 14.54%

What this measures

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Limitations: The criteria for people considered to be seeking work, and the treatment of people temporarily laid off or seeking work for the first time, vary across countries. In many cases it is especially difficult to measure employment and unemployment in agriculture. The timing of a survey can maximize the effects of seasonal unemployment in agriculture. And informal sector employment is difficult to quantify where informal activities are not tracked.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 35 values

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 12.5% (2025)
• Algeria — 9.79% (2025)
• Bahrain — 0.42% (2025)
• Djibouti — 21.78% (2025)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 4.56% (2025)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 6.82% (2025)
• Iraq — 13.25% (2025)
• Israel — 3.6% (2025)
• Jordan

More social protection & labor data for Libya

• Net migration — -172 (2025)
• Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin — 17,161 (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 10.25% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 22.86% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 16.73% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) — 35.74% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) — 66.5% (2025)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Libya's unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)?

15.45% in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1991?

It is down 0.71 percentage points from 16.16% in 1991. The highest value was 16.73% in 1994 and the lowest 15.45% in 2025.

How does Libya rank?

10th highest of 182 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) unusual for Libya?

In 2025, Libya's unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) fell 0.39 percentage points on 2024 (from 15.84% to 15.45%). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −0.03 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.28 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SL.UEM.TOTL.MA.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), uri: https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/bulk/, publisher: ILOSTAT, type: external database, date accessed: January 17, 2026 Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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