diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 2daa64593..c92684d4c 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # extension 'brotlipy' on PyPy
 brotli==1.0.7; platform_python_implementation != "PyPy"
 brotlipy==0.7.0; platform_python_implementation == "PyPy"
-unicodedata2==12.0.0; python_version < '3.8' and platform_python_implementation != "PyPy"
+unicodedata2==12.1.0; python_version < '3.8' and platform_python_implementation != "PyPy"
 scipy==1.3.1; platform_python_implementation != "PyPy"
 munkres==1.1.2; platform_python_implementation == "PyPy"
 zopfli==0.1.6
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index aea6459aa..9d5cd055f 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ extras_require = {
 	# which varies between python versions and may be outdated.
 	"unicode": [
 		# the unicodedata2 extension module doesn't work on PyPy.
-		# Python 3.8 already has Unicode 12, so the backport is not needed.
+		# Python 3.8 already has Unicode 12.1, so the backport is not needed.
 		(
-			"unicodedata2 >= 12.0.0; "
+			"unicodedata2 >= 12.1.0; "
 			"python_version < '3.8' and platform_python_implementation != 'PyPy'"
 		),
 	],