Brussels, 02/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - The rate of unemployment in the euro zone rose to 8.3% in October 2005, unchanged compared to September and down compared to October 2004 when it stood at 8.8%. In the EU25, the rate was 8.5%, also unchanged compared to September 2005 but down compared to October 2004 when it was 9%. At an annual rate, unemployment in fifteen Member States was down, six had a higher rate and four remained stable. The most significant falls were in Lithuania (from 10.2% to 7.3%), Estonia (from 8.6% to 6.9%), and Spain (from 10.6% to 8.6%), with the most marked increases being in Hungary (from 6.3% to 7.3%), Cyprus (fro 5.5% to 6.3%), Luxembourg (from 4.9% to 5.6%), Austria (from 5% to 5.3%) and Portugal (from 7% to 7.3%). The rate of unemployment for persons of below 25 years of age was 17.2% in the euro zone and 18.1% in the EU25, compared to 17.9% and 18.7% respectively in October 2004. In October 2005, the rate of unemployment was 5% in the United States and 4.5% in Japan.