Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries): Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 11.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), 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 Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) is 11.0%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 35.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 21.8% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 11.0%, in 2025.
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 31st of 47 groups on this measure, 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 Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 13.4% | — |
| 1992 | 14.3% | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 15.1% | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 16.4% | +9.2% |
| 1995 | 18.2% | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 19.0% | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 19.8% | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 21.8% | +10.1% |
| 1999 | 21.7% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 20.6% | -4.9% |
| 2001 | 20.8% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 20.5% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 20.4% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 19.8% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 18.4% | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 17.5% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 16.0% | -8.8% |
| 2008 | 15.1% | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 19.0% | +25.5% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 17.2% | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 16.9% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 16.9% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 17.2% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 17.1% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 16.9% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 16.1% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 15.6% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 16.6% | +6.6% |
| 2021 | 15.6% | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 13.5% | -13.4% |
| 2023 | 12.3% | -9.3% |
| 2024 | 11.2% | -8.9% |
| 2025 | 11.0% | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.7% | 13.4% | 21.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.8% | 15.1% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.7% | 15.3% | 18.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.4% | 11.0% | 16.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 48.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 68.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 29.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 41.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 35.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 71.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 69.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 60.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) was 11.0% 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 Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.0% in 2025.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.