Afghanistan vs China: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)
Afghanistan
15.8%
in 2025
China
17.1%
in 2025
Afghanistan rank
66th
China rank
63rd
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) over time
- Afghanistan
- China
How they compare
China currently reports 17.1% against 15.8% in Afghanistan, a difference of 1.3%.
That makes China's figure about 1.1 times Afghanistan's.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 35 shared years of data; in 1991 it was Afghanistan ahead.
Afghanistan ranks 66th and China ranks 63rd of 187 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Afghanistan averaged higher in 3 and China in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Afghanistan | China | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.4% | 6.5% | 3.0% | Afghanistan |
| 2000s | 9.4% | 10.0% | 0.6% | China |
| 2010s | 11.7% | 11.2% | 0.5% | Afghanistan |
| 2020s | 15.7% | 15.5% | 0.2% | Afghanistan |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24), Afghanistan or China?
- China, at 17.1% against 15.8% in Afghanistan as of 2025.
- What is the difference in unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) between Afghanistan and China?
- 1.3%, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Afghanistan and China?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do Afghanistan and China rank globally for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Afghanistan ranks 66th and China ranks 63rd of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.