Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Iran
Iran: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 32.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Iran, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Iran recorded 32.0% for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and down 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Iran peaked at 43.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 23.9%, in 1996.
That places Iran 25th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 40.6% | — |
| 1992 | 37.6% | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 35.3% | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 32.5% | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 28.5% | -12.3% |
| 1996 | 23.9% | -16.0% |
| 1997 | 26.4% | +10.5% |
| 1998 | 29.0% | +9.7% |
| 1999 | 31.8% | +9.6% |
| 2000 | 34.0% | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 36.5% | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 38.5% | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 33.7% | -12.5% |
| 2004 | 29.3% | -13.2% |
| 2005 | 32.4% | +10.8% |
| 2006 | 31.6% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 30.0% | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 33.6% | +12.1% |
| 2009 | 32.1% | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 40.6% | +26.2% |
| 2011 | 41.6% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 40.2% | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 41.3% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 43.3% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 42.2% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 43.6% | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 43.0% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 39.5% | -8.1% |
| 2019 | 38.3% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 35.5% | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 36.6% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 35.7% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 31.5% | -11.7% |
| 2024 | 31.5% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 32.0% | +1.8% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 32.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.7%, 1.6× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran's 32.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 29.5%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.7% | 23.9% | 40.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 33.2% | 29.3% | 38.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.4% | 38.3% | 43.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.8% | 31.5% | 36.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 22 New Caledonia 36.6% compare
- 23 Tunisia 36.0% compare
- 24 Cape Verde 33.9% compare
- 26 Georgia 31.9% compare
- 27 Bosnia and Herzegovina 31.4% compare
- 28 Armenia 30.6% compare
More work & labour data for Iran
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 44,188 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 40.34 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,874 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 8.53 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.43 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 57,320 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 20,416 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 36.89 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.89 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.574 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Iran?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Iran was 32.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 43.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.9% in 1996.
- How does Iran rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- Iran ranks 25th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.