Unemployment Rate Evolution in Egypt from 1990 to 2022

Egypt’s unemployment trends reveal the impact of political and economic shifts. In the early 1990s, Egypt maintained a relatively high unemployment rate, hovering around 8–11%, which persisted through various structural adjustments. Following the 2011 revolution, unemployment spiked to 13.2% in 2013 as political instability impacted the economy. This high rate continued through 2016, marking Egypt’s struggles in achieving sustained economic growth.

Post-2016, as Egypt undertook economic reforms under the International Monetary Fund (IMF), unemployment gradually decreased. By 2019, it reached 7.9%, its lowest level since the 1990s. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary rise to 8%, Egypt quickly recovered, with unemployment standing at 7.3% in 2022, reflecting ongoing improvements and economic resilience.