Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan
Bhutan: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 15.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan is 15.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 6.2% on the previous year and up 96.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan peaked at 23.8% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2001.
That places Bhutan 67th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.6% | — |
| 1992 | 4.6% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 4.7% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 4.6% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 4.6% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 4.6% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 4.6% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 4.6% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 4.1% | -11.5% |
| 2000 | 4.0% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 4.2% | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 4.4% | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 6.6% | +48.4% |
| 2005 | 10.4% | +57.6% |
| 2006 | 9.5% | -8.7% |
| 2007 | 10.7% | +12.6% |
| 2008 | 10.6% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 10.4% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | -32.7% |
| 2011 | 6.6% | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 6.9% | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 9.0% | +30.0% |
| 2014 | 8.3% | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 8.0% | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 10.1% | +26.0% |
| 2017 | 12.4% | +23.1% |
| 2018 | 14.9% | +19.9% |
| 2019 | 9.8% | -34.2% |
| 2020 | 19.2% | +95.9% |
| 2021 | 17.2% | -10.4% |
| 2022 | 23.8% | +38.0% |
| 2023 | 12.3% | -48.3% |
| 2024 | 16.8% | +37.2% |
| 2025 | 15.8% | -6.2% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 15.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.6%, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 15.8% is above the median for South Asia, which is 15.7%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +95.9% | 9.8% | 19.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.6% | 4.1% | 4.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.5% | 4.0% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.3% | 6.6% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.5% | 12.3% | 23.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More work & labour data for Bhutan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7164 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6963 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7381 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.816 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9406 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 573.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 420.94 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 334.32 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 356.11 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 690.43 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan was 15.8% 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 Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 23.8% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2001.
- How does Bhutan rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Bhutan ranks 67th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 96.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan 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.
Download this data
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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.