Unemployment rate (annual) in Iran

International Monetary Fund · Annual · Importance

IMF forecast (WEO): 2026: 9.2% 2027: 9.0% 2028: 9.0% 2029: 9.0% 2030: 9.0% 2031: 9.0%

15.8% (1999) ANUAL · % · Annual · CSV

Period	%
Jan 1999	15.8%
Jan 1998	13.6%
Jan 1997	11.9%
Jan 1996	9.1%
Jan 1995	10.0%
Jan 1994	10.0%
Jan 1993	10.0%
Jan 1992	10.0%
Jan 1991	10.0%
Jan 1990	14.2%

About this indicator

Source

International Monetary Fund

Frequency

Annual

Release

Published annually, covering the full year and subject to revision.

What it is

Measures the share of Iran's labour force that is without a job but available for and seeking work. It is compiled by the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI) and is the country's main labour market indicator.

How it's calculated

Calculated as the unemployed over the labour force times 100 from the labour force survey, under ILO criteria and as an annual average. The low participation rate, especially among women, shapes the outcome.

Market implications

In an economy hit by sanctions, unemployment, and youth unemployment in particular, is a sensitive social and political variable. A rise signals economic strain; with capital controls and a badly weakened rial, monetary policy has little room to respond.

Limitations

Low labour participation means a low rate can hide extensive inactivity, especially among women and young people. The data face reliability doubts and are subject to sampling error and revisions.