Unemployment rate for young people in Iran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Islamic Republic of: Unemployment rate for young people was 21.9 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate for young people in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate for young people in Iran, Islamic Republic of is 21.9, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and down 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate for young people in Iran, Islamic Republic of peaked at 29.09 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 18.55, in 1996.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 39th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate for young people in Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 23.01 | — |
| 1992 | 22.14 | -3.8% |
| 1993 | 21.82 | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 21.36 | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 20.16 | -5.6% |
| 1996 | 18.55 | -8.0% |
| 1997 | 19.61 | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 20.78 | +6.0% |
| 1999 | 22.15 | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 23.09 | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 24.28 | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 25.17 | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 22.68 | -9.9% |
| 2004 | 20.35 | -10.3% |
| 2005 | 23.4 | +15.0% |
| 2006 | 23.53 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 22.35 | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 23.14 | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 24.72 | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 28.7 | +16.1% |
| 2011 | 26.64 | -7.2% |
| 2012 | 26.89 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 23.87 | -11.2% |
| 2014 | 24.97 | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 25.96 | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 29.09 | +12.0% |
| 2017 | 28.21 | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 27.5 | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 25.95 | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 23.71 | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 23.75 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 22.69 | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 21.27 | -6.3% |
| 2024 | 21.31 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 21.9 | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.07 | 18.55 | 23.01 | 9 |
| 2000s | 23.27 | 20.35 | 25.17 | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.78 | 23.87 | 29.09 | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.44 | 21.27 | 23.75 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran, Islamic Republic of
More work & labour data for Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 40.34 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,874 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.574 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 0 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 0 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 41.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 20.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 14.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate for young people in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Unemployment rate for young people in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 21.9 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate for young people recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 29.09 in 2016.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate for young people recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.55 in 1996.
- How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for unemployment rate for young people?
- Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 39th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate for young people rising or falling in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate for young people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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