Youth unemployment rate in Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong, China: Youth unemployment rate was 9.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Youth unemployment rate in Hong Kong, China, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for youth unemployment rate in Hong Kong, China is 9.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 5.8% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, youth unemployment rate in Hong Kong, China peaked at 15.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 1991.
That places Hong Kong, China 128th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Youth unemployment rate in Hong Kong, China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.2% | — |
| 1992 | 4.3% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 6.8% | +58.5% |
| 1996 | 6.6% | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 5.2% | -21.8% |
| 1998 | 10.4% | +101.5% |
| 1999 | 13.9% | +33.9% |
| 2000 | 11.1% | -20.7% |
| 2001 | 11.2% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 14.8% | +32.3% |
| 2003 | 14.8% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 12.1% | -18.6% |
| 2005 | 10.7% | -11.6% |
| 2006 | 10.4% | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 9.0% | -13.5% |
| 2008 | 8.5% | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 12.5% | +46.7% |
| 2010 | 12.1% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 9.3% | -23.4% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 9.4% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 9.2% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 10.4% | +13.3% |
| 2016 | 9.7% | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | -12.3% |
| 2018 | 8.7% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 8.5% | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 15.5% | +82.2% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | -17.7% |
| 2022 | 11.0% | -13.8% |
| 2023 | 9.0% | -18.6% |
| 2024 | 9.5% | +6.0% |
| 2025 | 9.0% | -5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.7% | 4.2% | 13.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.5% | 8.5% | 14.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 8.5% | 12.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.1% | 9.0% | 15.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong, China
- 125 Czechia 9.2% compare
- 126 Belarus 9.2% compare
- 127 Switzerland 9.0% compare
- 129 Netherlands 8.8% compare
- 130 Sao Tome and Principe 8.8% compare
- 131 Comoros 8.8% compare
More work & labour data for Hong Kong, China
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 2,981 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 55.13 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 3,663 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 149,185 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,833 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 53.6 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.56 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -1.12 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is youth unemployment rate in Hong Kong, China?
- Youth unemployment rate in Hong Kong, China was 9.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest youth unemployment rate recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The highest recorded value was 15.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest youth unemployment rate recorded in Hong Kong, China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 1991.
- How does Hong Kong, China rank for youth unemployment rate?
- Hong Kong, China ranks 128th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is youth unemployment rate rising or falling in Hong Kong, China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Hong Kong, China data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Youth unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force aged 15-24 without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.