Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iran
Iran: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 19.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iran, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Iran recorded 19.3% for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iran peaked at 25.6% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 1996.
Iran ranks 47th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.6% | — |
| 1992 | 19.1% | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 19.2% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 19.2% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 18.5% | -3.5% |
| 1996 | 17.5% | -5.6% |
| 1997 | 18.2% | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 19.0% | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 19.9% | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 20.4% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 21.1% | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 21.5% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 19.5% | -9.2% |
| 2004 | 17.7% | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 20.6% | +16.5% |
| 2006 | 21.2% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 20.2% | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 20.4% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 22.8% | +11.5% |
| 2010 | 25.6% | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 23.1% | -9.9% |
| 2012 | 23.5% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 20.0% | -14.8% |
| 2014 | 21.2% | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 22.2% | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 25.4% | +14.2% |
| 2017 | 24.1% | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 24.2% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 22.7% | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 21.2% | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 21.0% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 19.9% | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 18.7% | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 18.8% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 19.3% | +3.1% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 19.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 1.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran's 19.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 19.3%, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.9% | 17.5% | 19.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 20.5% | 17.7% | 22.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.2% | 20.0% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.8% | 18.7% | 21.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More work & labour data for Iran
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 44,188 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 40.34 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,874 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 8.53 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.43 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 57,320 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 20,416 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 36.89 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.89 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.574 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iran?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iran was 19.3% 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 25.6% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 1996.
- How does Iran rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Iran ranks 47th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran 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.