Eurozone unemployment fell to its lowest level in four-and-a-half years in January, official data showed Tuesday, beating forecasts from analysts worried about the effects of a faltering global economy.

The Eurostat statistics agency said unemployment in the 19-nation eurozone dropped to 10.3 percent in January from 10.4 percent in December, its lowest rate since August 2011.

Analysts had expected the January figure to be unchanged at 10.4 percent, taking into account the sharp slowdown in China and turbulence on the global financial markets.