Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq
Iraq: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 28.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq, 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 Iraq stood at 28.1%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 52.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq peaked at 31.7% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 14.7%, in 2012.
That places Iraq 21st out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15.5% | — |
| 1992 | 15.1% | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 15.2% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 15.0% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 15.4% | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 15.6% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 15.2% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 15.1% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 15.0% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 15.3% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 15.7% | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 17.0% | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 16.8% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 16.6% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 16.5% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 16.9% | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 16.4% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 16.1% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 15.6% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 15.2% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 14.7% | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 15.7% | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 16.8% | +7.0% |
| 2015 | 18.4% | +9.7% |
| 2016 | 19.8% | +7.5% |
| 2017 | 21.6% | +9.1% |
| 2018 | 23.5% | +8.7% |
| 2019 | 25.7% | +9.6% |
| 2020 | 30.3% | +17.9% |
| 2021 | 31.7% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 27.8% | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 27.7% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 27.9% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 28.1% | +0.9% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 28.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 2.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 28.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 19.3%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.2% | 15.0% | 15.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.4% | 15.3% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.7% | 14.7% | 25.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.9% | 27.7% | 31.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More work & labour data for Iraq
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1939 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1833 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2038 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 65,560 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,931 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 50,009 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,640 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 100,649 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iraq was 28.1% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 31.7% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.7% in 2012.
- How does Iraq rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Iraq ranks 21st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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.