Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 28.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
28.1%
Change on year
down 9.6%
Rank
3rd
of 21 groups
All-time high
31.0%
in 2020
All-time low
21.0%
in 2006
Years of data
15
2006–2021

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 2006–2021

01020302006201320212006: 212007: 21.42008: 22.72009: 242010: 272011: 22.32012: 262013: 26.12014: 26.22015: 24.82016: 242018: 25.52019: 25.62020: 312021: 28.1

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 28.1%, measured in 2021.

The figure is down 9.6% on the previous year and up 26.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 31.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 21.0%, in 2006.

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 3rd of 21 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 2006 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2006 21.0%
2007 21.4% +1.9%
2008 22.7% +6.1%
2009 24.0% +5.7%
2010 27.0% +12.4%
2011 22.3% -17.5%
2012 26.0% +16.9%
2013 26.1% +0.5%
2014 26.2% +0.2%
2015 24.8% -5.3%
2016 24.0% -3.3%
2018 25.5% +6.3%
2019 25.6% +0.5%
2020 31.0% +21.1%
2021 28.1% -9.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 22.3% 21.0% 24.0% 4
2010s 25.3% 22.3% 27.0% 9
2020s 29.6% 28.1% 31.0% 2

Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

  1. 1 South Africa 63.8% compare
  2. 2 Iraq 62.2% compare
  3. 3 Palestine 56.1% compare
  4. 4 Botswana 49.0% compare
  5. 5 Algeria 45.5% compare
  6. 6 Morocco 44.4% compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More work & labour data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 28.1% 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
The highest recorded value was 31.0% in 2020.
What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
The lowest recorded value was 21.0% in 2006.
How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 3rd out of 21 groups with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 19 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-youth-female-percent-of-female-labor-force-ages-15-24-national-estimate/middle-east-north-africa-afghanistan-and-pakistan/

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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.