Home Insights Top 10 countries with the highest unemployment rates European and African countries dominate the list for 2015, as compiled with data from the International Labour Organisation. by Thapasya Chandran May 19, 2015 Globally over 201 million people are unemployed, with the numbers expected to increase over the next few years, according to data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO). More than 61 million jobs have been lost since the start of the global crisis in 2008, and by 2019, more than 212 million people will be without employment. The problem is more endemic among young professionals, with the global youth unemployment rate standing at roughly 13 per cent. Regionally, more than 30 per cent of young Arabs are unemployed because of unrest in region, Ahmad Mohammed Luqman, the director general of the Arab Labour Organisation said last month. “Unrest and a lack of investments have boosted the number of jobless,” he said. GCC countries, however, have managed to maintain healthy levels of employment among their citizens, with Qatar even topping the list for the lowest unemployment rate worldwide at 0.3 per cent, according to the ILO. Top 10 countries with highest unemployment rates worldwide (Data from ILO’s 2015 estimates) 1) MAURITANIA Region: Western Africa Classification: Lower middle-income Population: 3.89 million Unemployment rate: 30.9% 2) REUNION Region: Overseas region of France Population: 0.8 million Unemployment rate: 29.4% 3) MACEDONIA Region: Southern Europe Classification: Upper middle-income Population: 2.107 million Unemployment rate: 28.2% 4) BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Region: Southern Europe Classification: Upper middle-income Population: 3.829 million Unemployment rate: 27.5% 5) GUADELOUPE Region: Overseas region of France Population: 0.4 million Unemployment rate: 25.8% 6) LESOTHO Region: Africa Classification: Lower middle-income Population: 2.074 million Unemployment rate: 25.7% 7) WEST BANK AND GAZA Region: Middle East Classification: Lower middle-income Population: 4.170 million Unemployment rate: 25.3% 8) SOUTH AFRICA Region: Africa Classification: Upper middle-income Population: 53.16 million Unemployment rate: 25% 9) GREECE Region: Southern Europe Classification: High-income Population: 11.03 million Unemployment rate: 24.6% 10) SPAIN Region: Southern Europe Classification: High-income Population: 24.62 million Unemployment rate: 23.6% 0 Comments