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Mapped: Europe’s Unemployment Rates in 2026
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Key Takeaways
- Finland (10.2%) and Spain (9.8%) have the highest unemployment rates in Europe as of January 2026.
- Europe’s average unemployment rate stands at 5.5%, but the gap between countries remains wide.
- Russia (2.2%), Bulgaria (3.1%), and Poland (3.1%) post the continent’s lowest rates.
Europe’s labor market tells two very different stories in 2026. While some countries continue to struggle with elevated unemployment, others are operating much closer to full employment.
This map shows unemployment rates across Europe as of January 2026, using data from Eurostat and the national statistical services of Russia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The contrast is stark: Finland (10.2%) and Spain (9.8%) sit at the top of the ranking, while Russia (2.2%), Bulgaria (3.1%), and Poland (3.1%) are at the low end.
The Highest and Lowest Rates Across Europe
The data table below provides unemployment rates for Europe as of January 2026.
| Country | Unemployment Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Finland | 10.2 |
| Spain | 9.8 |
| Sweden | 8.7 |
| France | 7.7 |
| Greece | 7.7 |
| Denmark | 7.5 |
| Latvia | 6.9 |
| Luxembourg | 6.9 |
| Belgium | 6.4 |
| Lithuania | 6.4 |
| Estonia | 6.3 |
| Romania | 6.0 |
| Austria | 5.6 |
| Portugal | 5.6 |
| Slovakia | 5.6 |
| Iceland | 5.3 |
| United Kingdom | 5.2 |
| Italy | 5.1 |
| Ireland | 4.7 |
| Croatia | 4.5 |
| Hungary | 4.5 |
| Norway | 4.5 |
| Cyprus | 4.2 |
| Germany | 4.0 |
| Netherlands | 4.0 |
| Slovenia | 3.9 |
| Malta | 3.4 |
| Czechia | 3.2 |
| Switzerland | 3.2 |
| Bulgaria | 3.1 |
| Poland | 3.1 |
| Russia | 2.2 |
Countries With Elevated Unemployment
Beyond Finland and Spain, several major European economies still sit well above the continental average. France and Greece (both 7.7%) are among the highest, highlighting ongoing challenges in parts of the region.
In these economies, slower growth and structural labor market constraints have kept unemployment elevated compared to peers. France is a clear example, remaining firmly in Europe’s higher-unemployment group.
Even as conditions improve elsewhere, these countries continue to lag behind much of the continent.
The South’s Unemployment Problem
France is far from alone in facing high unemployment. Its two main southern neighbors have long been plagued by much of the same, though both have made strides since the eurozone crisis which wrecked their finances between 2008 and 2014.
At 9.8%, Spain today has Europe’s second-highest unemployment rate, behind only Finland (10.2%). The Iberian country has only recently fallen below the 10% benchmark for the first time since the 2008 crisis began. Spain’s economy has weathered Europe’s current growth crisis better than most, aided by high public investment and EU funds.
Meanwhile, Italy outperforms the European average with its 5.1% unemployment rate as of January 2026. The EU’s third-largest economy has also made strides in its labor market since the eurozone crisis. For example, while youth unemployment remains high at 20%, this figure also represents half of the roughly 40% seen in 2014 at the tail end of the crisis.
A Different Picture Outside the EU
The primary non-EU economies present a mixed bag. The UK (5.2%) sits close to the continental average, as does Switzerland (5%). Norway (4.5%) performs better than many EU peers.
Russia stands out most at 2.2%, the lowest rate among Europe’s major economies. Together, these figures reinforce the map’s central takeaway: Europe’s labor market is not moving uniformly, but diverging across countries.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Unemployment Rates in OECD Countries on Voronoi.