7 Facts: Unemployed Workers of the World, Unite!
Advanced economies account for a disproportionate share of global joblessness.
November 24, 2014
1. The total number of jobless workers throughout the world in 2013 was 201.8 million.
2. The total number of jobless includes 157.1 million unemployed people in developing countries (78% of global jobless) – and 44.7 million in the world’s advanced economies.
3. The total jobless in the in the world’s developing economies is roughly the same as the population of Bangladesh (156.6 million), the world’s 8th most populous country.
4. The jobless in the world’s advanced countries equals the population of world’s 31st-most populous country, between Ukraine (45.5 million) and Kenya (44.4 million).
5. While the advanced economies account for about 15% of the world population, they account for 22% of global joblessness.
6. Thus, advanced countries have about 50% higher share of unemployment globally than their share of population would indicate.
The Upshot
The number of jobless workers worldwide, at 201.8 million, exceeds the entire population of Brazil (200 million), the world’s fifth most-populous nation.
Data source: Global Employment Trends 2014, International Labor Organization. Analysis by The Globalist Research Center.
Takeaways
Advanced economies account for a disproportionate share of global joblessness.
The total jobless in the in the world's developing economies is roughly the same as the population of Bangladesh.
Advanced countries have a 50% higher share of unemployment globally than their share of population would indicate.
