Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 9.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
9.4%
Change on year
down 55.3%
World rank
116th
of 157 countries
All-time high
21.4%
in 2017
All-time low
4.0%
in 2008
Years of data
6
2008–2021

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Afghanistan, 2008–2021

51015202008201420212008: 42012: 4.52014: 12.62017: 21.42020: 21.12021: 9.4

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Afghanistan recorded 9.4% for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in 2021.

The figure is down 55.3% on the previous year and up 108.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Afghanistan peaked at 21.4% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2008.

Afghanistan ranks 116th of 157 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Afghanistan, 2008 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2008 4.0%
2012 4.5% +14.3%
2014 12.6% +177.8%
2017 21.4% +70.5%
2020 21.1% -1.3%
2021 9.4% -55.3%

Afghanistan compared with similar countries

  • Afghanistan's 9.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.4%, 1.0× the median. (9 countries reporting)
  • Afghanistan's 9.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 29.0%, 33% of the median. (19 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 4.0% 4.0% 4.0% 1
2010s 12.8% 4.5% 21.4% 3
2020s 15.3% 9.4% 21.1% 2

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 113 Senegal 9.9% compare
  2. 114 Peru 9.7% compare
  3. 115 Maldives 9.7% compare
  4. 117 Singapore 9.4% compare
  5. 118 Rwanda 9.4% compare
  6. 119 Switzerland 9.2% compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More work & labour data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Afghanistan?
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Afghanistan was 9.4% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 21.4% in 2017.
What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2008.
How does Afghanistan rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
Afghanistan ranks 116th out of 157 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 108.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-youth-female-percent-of-female-labor-force-ages-15-24-national-estimate/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
178 places, 4,080 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.