Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
South Asia (IDA & IBRD): Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 16.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) is 16.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and down 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 24.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 2023.
That places South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 14th out of 47 groups 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.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 17.9% | — |
| 1992 | 18.0% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 18.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 17.9% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 17.9% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 17.9% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 18.1% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 18.2% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 18.4% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 18.5% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 18.6% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 18.8% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 18.7% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 19.3% | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 19.8% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 19.8% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 20.0% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 20.4% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 20.7% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 20.3% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 20.7% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 21.2% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 21.7% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 22.1% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 22.6% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 23.2% | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 23.8% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 24.0% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 21.9% | -8.9% |
| 2020 | 23.5% | +7.5% |
| 2021 | 18.8% | -20.3% |
| 2022 | 17.6% | -6.3% |
| 2023 | 14.5% | -17.6% |
| 2024 | 15.9% | +9.6% |
| 2025 | 16.3% | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.0% | 17.9% | 18.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.5% | 18.5% | 20.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.2% | 20.3% | 24.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.8% | 14.5% | 23.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
More work & labour data for South Asia (IDA & IBRD)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 45.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 33.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 81.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 35.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 33.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 42.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 55.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 77.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in South Asia (IDA & IBRD) was 16.3% 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 South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 24.0% in 2018.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 2023.
- How does South Asia (IDA & IBRD) rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) ranks 14th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in South Asia (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 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.