Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Arab World
Arab World: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 22.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
22.1%
Change on year
down 0.0%
Rank
2nd
of 47 groups
All-time high
26.1%
in 2017
All-time low
18.2%
in 2009
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Arab World, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Arab World stood at 22.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Arab World peaked at 26.1% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 18.2%, in 2009.
That places Arab World 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Arab World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.7% | — |
| 1992 | 23.9% | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 25.3% | +5.8% |
| 1994 | 25.2% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 25.8% | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 24.1% | -6.4% |
| 1997 | 22.7% | -6.1% |
| 1998 | 22.6% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 22.4% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 23.3% | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 23.7% | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 24.0% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 24.5% | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 21.7% | -11.4% |
| 2005 | 22.2% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 20.9% | -5.9% |
| 2007 | 20.0% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 19.8% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 18.2% | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 18.8% | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 21.6% | +15.3% |
| 2012 | 23.9% | +10.7% |
| 2013 | 24.1% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 24.0% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 26.0% | +8.3% |
| 2016 | 25.5% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 26.1% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 23.5% | -9.9% |
| 2019 | 22.2% | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 24.7% | +11.3% |
| 2021 | 23.8% | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 21.3% | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 22.1% | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 22.1% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 22.1% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.9% | 22.4% | 25.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 21.8% | 18.2% | 24.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.6% | 18.8% | 26.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.7% | 21.3% | 24.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
- 1 Djibouti 76.1% compare
- 2 South Africa 56.5% compare
- 3 Eswatini 50.9% compare
- 4 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 42.3% compare
- 5 Libya 41.9% compare
More work & labour data for Arab World
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 46.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 25.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 39.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 10.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 20.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 73.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 48.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 19.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 30.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 70.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Arab World?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Arab World was 22.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 26.1% in 2017.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.2% in 2009.
- How does Arab World rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Arab World ranks 2nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Arab World data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male 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.