Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia
Colombia: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 14.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia, 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 Colombia is 14.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 11.4% on the previous year and up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia peaked at 32.6% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 10.4%, in 1994.
That places Colombia 82nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15.1% | — |
| 1992 | 13.9% | -8.1% |
| 1993 | 10.8% | -22.1% |
| 1994 | 10.4% | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 13.2% | +26.8% |
| 1996 | 18.2% | +38.1% |
| 1997 | 18.9% | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 24.0% | +26.6% |
| 1999 | 32.6% | +36.0% |
| 2000 | 32.3% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 22.4% | -30.6% |
| 2002 | 22.2% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 20.1% | -9.4% |
| 2004 | 21.0% | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 17.9% | -15.1% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 17.9% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 18.5% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 18.2% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 16.9% | -7.2% |
| 2012 | 15.7% | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 14.5% | -8.1% |
| 2014 | 14.6% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 13.3% | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 14.5% | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 14.5% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 15.6% | +7.6% |
| 2019 | 16.7% | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 21.7% | +29.7% |
| 2021 | 19.6% | -9.7% |
| 2022 | 17.1% | -12.7% |
| 2023 | 16.2% | -5.2% |
| 2024 | 16.2% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 14.3% | -11.4% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 14.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 100% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 14.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 13.0%, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.5% | 10.4% | 32.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 20.8% | 17.8% | 32.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.4% | 13.3% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.5% | 14.3% | 21.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
- 79 Hungary 14.5% compare
- 80 Norway 14.4% compare
- 81 Turkmenistan 14.4% compare
- 83 Channel Islands 14.1% compare
- 84 Guam 13.4% compare
- 85 Bangladesh 13.3% compare
More work & labour data for Colombia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6981 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7453 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1417 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 48,629 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 6,104 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 23,624 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 23,456 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 47,081 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia was 14.3% 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.6% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.4% in 1994.
- How does Colombia rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Colombia ranks 82nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Colombia 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.