Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) by country
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.
Countries reporting
157
Highest
63.8%
South Africa
Lowest
0.2%
Niger
Median
14.4%
Years covered
66
1960–2025
Data points
4,080
What the numbers show
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) is currently reported for 157 countries. The highest value is 63.8% in South Africa; the lowest is 0.2% in Niger.
The median across all reporting countries is 14.4%, and the mean is 17.6%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 264.
Over the past decade 67 countries rose and 89 fell. The largest increase was in Madagascar (up 469.0%), and the largest decrease in Niger (down 95.7%).
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 63.8% | 2024 | up 15.4% | flat |
| 2 | Iraq | 62.2% | 2021 | up 108.7% | rising |
| 3 | Palestine, State of | 56.1% | 2025 | down 0.8% | rising |
| 4 | Botswana | 49.0% | 2024 | down 0.4% | rising |
| 5 | Algeria | 45.5% | 2017 | up 31.5% | rising |
| 6 | Morocco | 44.4% | 2022 | up 131.5% | rising |
| 7 | Lesotho | 43.7% | 2024 | up 4.3% | falling |
| 8 | Syrian Arab Republic | 43.5% | 2010 | up 11.8% | rising |
| 9 | Suriname | 39.9% | 2016 | up 18.9% | falling |
| 10 | Namibia | 38.5% | 2018 | down 16.0% | falling |
| 11 | New Caledonia | 38.5% | 2023 | down 3.6% | flat |
| 12 | Guyana | 37.6% | 2021 | — | falling |
| 13 | Tunisia | 36.3% | 2023 | down 3.8% | rising |
| 14 | Jordan | 33.8% | 2024 | down 36.5% | falling |
| 15 | Puerto Rico | 33.5% | 2020 | up 52.4% | falling |
| 16 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 32.9% | 2024 | down 49.7% | falling |
| 17 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 30.4% | 2024 | down 30.6% | flat |
| 18 | Sri Lanka | 30.4% | 2024 | up 14.9% | falling |
| 19 | Kuwait | 30.0% | 2016 | up 199.8% | volatile |
| 20 | Uruguay | 29.9% | 2024 | up 24.8% | falling |
| 21 | Bermuda | 29.0% | 2014 | up 267.0% | volatile |
| 22 | Egypt | 29.0% | 2024 | down 40.2% | falling |
| 23 | Guam | 28.9% | 2011 | up 6.8% | rising |
| 24 | Belize | 28.5% | 2019 | down 19.8% | falling |
| 25 | Bahamas | 27.9% | 2023 | down 13.4% | rising |
| 26 | Romania | 27.8% | 2025 | up 19.0% | rising |
| 27 | Oman | 27.4% | 2022 | up 25.4% | flat |
| 28 | North Macedonia | 27.2% | 2025 | down 37.9% | falling |
| 29 | Spain | 25.8% | 2025 | down 46.2% | flat |
| 30 | Costa Rica | 25.5% | 2025 | down 4.5% | rising |
| 31 | Chile | 25.5% | 2025 | up 39.2% | rising |
| 32 | Montenegro | 25.2% | 2024 | down 28.9% | falling |
| 33 | Armenia | 24.9% | 2023 | down 40.8% | falling |
| 34 | Zimbabwe | 24.9% | 2024 | up 218.1% | rising |
| 35 | Panama | 24.3% | 2025 | up 54.0% | rising |
| 36 | Sweden | 23.9% | 2025 | up 22.1% | rising |
| 37 | Kosovo | 23.8% | 2024 | down 66.8% | falling |
| 37 | Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) | 23.8% | 2024 | down 66.8% | falling |
| 39 | Serbia | 23.7% | 2025 | down 50.7% | falling |
| 40 | Saint Lucia | 23.3% | 2025 | down 41.6% | falling |
| 41 | Samoa | 23.3% | 2022 | down 8.0% | rising |
| 42 | Brunei Darussalam | 23.2% | 2024 | down 17.0% | falling |
| 43 | Albania | 22.5% | 2024 | down 31.3% | rising |
| 44 | Colombia | 22.4% | 2025 | down 3.9% | rising |
| 45 | Malawi | 22.3% | 2024 | up 215.6% | volatile |
| 46 | Fiji | 22.3% | 2024 | down 13.5% | falling |
| 47 | Italy | 22.2% | 2025 | down 47.9% | falling |
| 47 | Türkiye | 22.2% | 2025 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 49 | Bhutan | 21.9% | 2025 | up 72.6% | rising |
| 50 | Finland | 21.8% | 2025 | up 10.7% | rising |
| 51 | Georgia | 21.6% | 2024 | down 35.1% | rising |
| 52 | Portugal | 21.6% | 2025 | down 36.6% | rising |
| 53 | San Marino | 21.4% | 2022 | down 13.0% | rising |
| 54 | Argentina | 21.1% | 2025 | down 5.4% | falling |
| 55 | Greece | 20.8% | 2025 | down 62.1% | rising |
| 56 | Grenada | 20.6% | 2023 | down 40.0% | falling |
| 57 | Ukraine | 20.3% | 2021 | up 8.7% | rising |
| 58 | France | 19.5% | 2025 | down 19.7% | falling |
| 59 | India | 19.1% | 2025 | up 81.7% | rising |
| 60 | Saudi Arabia | 18.9% | 2025 | down 67.4% | falling |
| 61 | Estonia | 18.8% | 2025 | up 44.3% | rising |
| 62 | Croatia | 18.5% | 2025 | down 57.5% | falling |
| 63 | Luxembourg | 18.1% | 2024 | down 26.7% | volatile |
| 64 | Dominican Republic | 17.8% | 2025 | down 27.1% | flat |
| 65 | Greenland | 17.6% | 2015 | up 20.1% | rising |
| 66 | Barbados | 17.5% | 2024 | down 55.7% | falling |
| 67 | Mauritius | 17.5% | 2024 | down 45.9% | falling |
| 68 | Angola | 17.0% | 2025 | up 1.5% | falling |
| 69 | Kenya | 17.0% | 2021 | up 128.3% | falling |
| 70 | Mongolia | 16.9% | 2024 | up 29.4% | rising |
| 71 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 16.8% | 2020 | up 3.8% | falling |
| 72 | United Arab Emirates | 16.6% | 2024 | up 74.7% | rising |
| 73 | Brazil | 15.8% | 2025 | down 32.9% | rising |
| 74 | Belgium | 15.7% | 2025 | down 21.7% | falling |
| 75 | New Zealand | 15.5% | 2025 | up 12.1% | flat |
| 76 | Azerbaijan | 15.3% | 2022 | down 6.6% | falling |
| 77 | Burkina Faso | 15.2% | 2025 | up 21.3% | volatile |
| 78 | Mali | 14.7% | 2024 | up 102.4% | volatile |
| 79 | Cape Verde | 14.4% | 2019 | down 46.7% | falling |
| 79 | Slovakia | 14.4% | 2025 | down 47.8% | falling |
| 79 | Slovenia | 14.4% | 2025 | down 1.1% | falling |
| 82 | Paraguay | 14.3% | 2025 | up 18.2% | rising |
| 83 | Hungary | 13.9% | 2025 | down 12.9% | flat |
| 84 | Honduras | 13.4% | 2025 | down 30.2% | rising |
| 85 | Malaysia | 13.4% | 2022 | up 25.6% | rising |
| 86 | Denmark | 13.3% | 2025 | up 19.3% | falling |
| 86 | Latvia | 13.3% | 2025 | down 6.0% | falling |
| 88 | Pakistan | 13.2% | 2025 | up 40.4% | volatile |
| 89 | Indonesia | 13.1% | 2023 | down 18.6% | flat |
| 90 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 13.0% | 2025 | down 4.4% | falling |
| 91 | Nicaragua | 12.9% | 2014 | up 33.8% | rising |
| 92 | Canada | 12.8% | 2025 | up 18.7% | falling |
| 93 | Norway | 12.8% | 2025 | up 49.0% | falling |
| 94 | Poland | 12.7% | 2025 | down 39.0% | falling |
| 95 | Cyprus | 12.5% | 2025 | down 60.0% | rising |
| 96 | Kiribati | 11.9% | 2023 | up 59.8% | volatile |
| 97 | Bulgaria | 11.8% | 2025 | down 47.0% | falling |
| 98 | Seychelles | 11.8% | 2024 | down 14.8% | falling |
| 99 | Faroe Islands | 11.7% | 2013 | up 18.6% | rising |
| 100 | Ireland | 11.7% | 2025 | down 28.4% | falling |
| 101 | Trinidad and Tobago | 11.6% | 2024 | up 50.5% | volatile |
| 102 | Cayman Islands | 11.4% | 2015 | up 25.8% | rising |
| 103 | Austria | 11.4% | 2025 | up 12.0% | rising |
| 104 | Zambia | 11.2% | 2024 | down 67.7% | volatile |
| 105 | Ghana | 10.9% | 2024 | up 116.1% | volatile |
| 106 | Hong Kong, China | 10.9% | 2025 | up 13.3% | rising |
| 107 | Ecuador | 10.9% | 2025 | down 1.5% | falling |
| 108 | Lithuania | 10.7% | 2025 | down 35.7% | falling |
| 109 | Jamaica | 10.6% | 2023 | down 70.9% | falling |
| 110 | Czechia | 10.4% | 2025 | down 27.9% | falling |
| 111 | Iceland | 10.2% | 2025 | up 51.6% | rising |
| 111 | Malta | 10.2% | 2025 | up 3.6% | falling |
| 113 | Senegal | 9.9% | 2024 | up 10.5% | falling |
| 114 | Peru | 9.7% | 2025 | up 49.1% | rising |
| 115 | Maldives | 9.7% | 2019 | down 54.7% | volatile |
| 116 | Afghanistan | 9.4% | 2021 | up 108.7% | volatile |
| 117 | Singapore | 9.4% | 2025 | down 15.9% | rising |
| 118 | Rwanda | 9.4% | 2025 | up 280.0% | rising |
| 119 | Switzerland | 9.2% | 2025 | up 9.9% | rising |
| 120 | Belarus | 9.0% | 2024 | up 6.2% | falling |
| 121 | United States of America | 9.0% | 2025 | down 13.5% | falling |
| 122 | Netherlands | 8.6% | 2025 | down 23.0% | falling |
| 123 | Australia | 8.4% | 2025 | down 29.1% | falling |
| 124 | El Salvador | 8.2% | 2024 | down 11.2% | rising |
| 125 | Philippines | 8.2% | 2023 | down 26.8% | falling |
| 126 | Russian Federation | 8.0% | 2025 | down 53.3% | falling |
| 127 | Cameroon | 7.9% | 2021 | up 5.4% | volatile |
| 128 | Bahrain | 7.7% | 2015 | down 71.7% | volatile |
| 129 | Kyrgyzstan | 7.0% | 2023 | down 34.0% | falling |
| 130 | Nigeria | 6.7% | 2024 | down 41.6% | falling |
| 131 | Germany | 6.6% | 2025 | up 3.0% | falling |
| 132 | Uganda | 6.4% | 2021 | up 311.6% | rising |
| 133 | Mexico | 6.4% | 2025 | down 36.5% | falling |
| 134 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 6.4% | 2024 | up 37.2% | falling |
| 135 | Viet Nam | 6.1% | 2024 | up 13.7% | rising |
| 136 | Macau, China | 6.1% | 2020 | up 76.7% | falling |
| 137 | Myanmar | 5.8% | 2020 | down 38.4% | volatile |
| 138 | Korea | 5.7% | 2025 | down 42.6% | flat |
| 139 | Madagascar | 5.7% | 2022 | up 469.0% | volatile |
| 140 | Isle of Man | 5.5% | 2016 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 141 | Guatemala | 5.1% | 2024 | down 40.4% | rising |
| 142 | Bangladesh | 5.0% | 2024 | down 47.7% | rising |
| 143 | Kazakhstan | 4.9% | 2022 | down 3.3% | volatile |
| 144 | Côte d'Ivoire | 4.9% | 2022 | down 48.0% | rising |
| 145 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 4.8% | 2024 | down 31.5% | falling |
| 146 | Israel | 4.7% | 2025 | down 51.8% | falling |
| 147 | Thailand | 4.7% | 2025 | up 19.3% | rising |
| 148 | Republic of Moldova | 3.9% | 2025 | up 31.8% | volatile |
| 149 | Japan | 3.7% | 2025 | down 27.0% | rising |
| 150 | Togo | 3.6% | 2022 | up 54.8% | volatile |
| 151 | Timor-Leste | 3.4% | 2022 | down 47.0% | falling |
| 152 | Vanuatu | 2.7% | 2025 | down 81.1% | falling |
| 153 | Benin | 2.7% | 2022 | down 54.3% | volatile |
| 154 | Liechtenstein | 2.6% | 2017 | down 7.4% | flat |
| 155 | Qatar | 1.3% | 2024 | down 67.9% | volatile |
| 156 | Cambodia | 0.4% | 2023 | down 41.9% | volatile |
| 157 | Niger | 0.2% | 2022 | down 95.7% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (excluding high income) 28.5%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 28.1%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 28.1%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 25.5%
- IBRD only 20.3%
- South Asia 19.1%
- South Asia (IDA & IBRD) 19.1%
- Early-demographic dividend 17.6%
- European Union 16.9%
- Euro area 16.8%
- Central Europe and the Baltics 16.0%
- Europe & Central Asia 15.6%
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 15.4%
- Lower middle income 15.1%
- Latin America & Caribbean 14.2%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 14.2%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 13.7%
- OECD members 12.3%
- High income 11.9%
- Post-demographic dividend 11.4%
- North America 9.4%
About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.