Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 13.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia, 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 Europe & Central Asia stood at 13.6%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 20.8% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 13.6%, in 2025.
Europe & Central Asia ranks 20th 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, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 14.1% | — |
| 1992 | 15.3% | +8.0% |
| 1993 | 17.6% | +15.3% |
| 1994 | 18.9% | +7.5% |
| 1995 | 19.3% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 19.9% | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 20.1% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 20.6% | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 20.2% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 18.8% | -7.1% |
| 2001 | 18.2% | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 18.3% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 18.6% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 18.5% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 18.1% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 17.1% | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 15.6% | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 15.5% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 20.2% | +30.1% |
| 2010 | 20.0% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 19.7% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 20.6% | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 20.8% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 20.5% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 19.8% | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 19.0% | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 17.7% | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 16.4% | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 16.1% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 17.5% | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 16.7% | -4.6% |
| 2022 | 14.6% | -12.5% |
| 2023 | 14.1% | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 13.7% | -2.9% |
| 2025 | 13.6% | -0.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +30.1% | 15.5% | 20.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.5% | 14.1% | 20.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 17.9% | 15.5% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.1% | 16.1% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.0% | 13.6% | 17.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 35.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 44.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 72.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia was 13.6% 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?
- The highest recorded value was 20.8% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.6% in 2025.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 20th 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?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.