The countries expected to have the highest unemployment rate in 2026 have been revealed
According to forecasts for 2026, unemployment is expected to reach 59.5 percent in Sudan and 33.2 percent in the Republic of South Africa. They have the highest figures on the unemployment map covering 103 countries. Meanwhile, official unemployment rates are projected to be relatively low in Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and Russia.
The countries expected to have the highest unemployment in 2026 have been revealed.
It presents forecast indicators for 2026 across 103 countries. The large discrepancies among the countries are linked to economic growth rates, the demographic situation, and the characteristics of national labor markets.
Among the countries included in the map, the highest unemployment is expected in Sudan at 59.5 percent. The analysis attributes this figure to the severe damage inflicted on the economy by the country's ongoing prolonged conflict.
South Africa ranks second. Unemployment here is projected to stand at 33.2 percent. Long-standing structural problems in the labor market are preventing millions of people from finding work.
The issue of unemployment is also noticeable in economically developed countries. Discrepancies among European nations are particularly large.
For example, the unemployment rate in Finland is projected to be 10.2 percent for 2026. In Poland, however, this figure is expected to be 3.2 percent. Thus, the unemployment rate in Finland is more than three times higher than that of Poland.
Finland's labor market is being affected by weak domestic demand and a prolonged downturn in the construction sector. These factors are limiting the ability of businesses to hire new employees.
Unemployment is projected to be 8.4 percent in France and 4 percent in Germany. France's indicator is more than double that of Germany. At the same time, difficulties persist in German industry.
A different situation is being observed in the US labor market. The country is experiencing low activity in both hiring new employees and lay-offs.
For this reason, although mass lay-offs are not being observed, finding a new job is becoming increasingly difficult. That is, while those currently employed are retaining their positions, opportunities are becoming limited for job seekers.
Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and Russia are listed among the countries with low official unemployment rates. China and India also show relatively low overall indicators.