Docs/APIs/Unemployment Rate

Unemployment Rate

Get Unemployment Rate by Country

OperationalCredits 1 per callp50 438msFinanceStar

Overview

Unemployment Rate provides annual unemployment data from the World Bank, based on ILO (International Labour Organization) modeled estimates. The data covers virtually every country in the world and is updated annually. Use this for economic analysis, country comparisons, and labor market research.

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

GEThttps://api.apiverve.com/v1/unemployment
curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/unemployment?country=USA&year=2023" \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"
const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/unemployment?country=USA&year=2023', {
  headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});

if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);

const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/unemployment?country=USA&year=2023",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
    timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()

print(res.json()["data"])
package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"net/http"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/unemployment?country=USA&year=2023", nil)
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")

	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
	fmt.Println(string(out))
}

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

401 is the only auth verdict

A 401 means the key is missing, invalid or expired. A 403 means the key is valid but not permitted here — blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Running out of credits is a 429.

Parameters

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

ParameterTypeDescription
countryRequiredstringISO country code (2 or 3 letter). Examples: US, USA, DE, DEU, GB, GBR
length 2–3
yearOptionalPremiumintegerSpecific year to retrieve data for (1991-present). Returns latest if not specified.
range 1991–2030

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

Sample response
{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "country": "USA",
    "countryName": "United States",
    "year": 2024,
    "count": 1,
    "historical": [
      {
        "year": 2024,
        "rate": 4.02
      }
    ]
  },
  "code": 200
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

FieldTypeExampleDescription
countrystring"USA"ISO code representing the country queried
countryNamestring"United States"Full official name of the country
yearnumber2024Year of the unemployment data returned
countnumber1Number of historical records available
historicalPremiumarray[1]Array of historical unemployment rates by year
yearPremiumnumber2024Year for historical unemployment record
ratePremiumnumber4.02Unemployment rate as percentage of labor force

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

StatusMeaningWhat to do
400Input was rejectedRead error; it names the parameter.
401Key missing or invalidCheck the header name and the key value.
403Key valid, but not permittedA key restriction or IP allow-list; see key scoping.
429Rate limited, or out of creditsRead error to tell them apart; see rate limits.

Use cases

Economic Analysis
Analyze unemployment trends to understand economic health and labor market conditions
Country Comparison
Compare unemployment rates across different countries and regions
Historical Research
Track unemployment changes over time to study economic cycles and policy impacts
Investment Research
Factor unemployment data into investment decisions and economic forecasting

Other ways to use Unemployment Rate

Set up Unemployment Rate on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.VerveKitReference →
Use it in Google Sheets or ExcelA =VERVE() formula fills a column — no script, no export, recalculates in place.VerveSheetsReference →
Ground an agent on itA cited, machine-checkable fact your model can't produce on its own.VerveContextReference →

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