Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Libya
Libya: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 41.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Libya, 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 Libya stood at 41.9%.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Libya peaked at 44.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 38.1%, in 1991.
That places Libya 5th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Libya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 38.1% | — |
| 1992 | 38.5% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 38.8% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 39.3% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 39.3% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 39.2% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 39.2% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 39.4% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 39.6% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 39.7% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 39.6% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 39.6% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 39.3% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 39.2% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 38.8% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 39.3% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 39.6% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 40.4% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 41.2% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 41.6% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 42.4% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 42.0% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 42.6% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 42.7% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 43.4% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 43.3% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 42.4% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 42.1% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 42.5% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 44.7% | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 43.7% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 42.8% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 41.9% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 42.5% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 41.9% | -1.4% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 41.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 2.9× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Libya's 41.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 19.3%, 2.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.0% | 38.1% | 39.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 39.7% | 38.8% | 41.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.5% | 41.6% | 43.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.9% | 41.9% | 44.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More work & labour data for Libya
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1881 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1642 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.213 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.54 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4664 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 7,184 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 939.57 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,815 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,969 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 9,784 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Libya?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Libya was 41.9% 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 44.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.1% in 1991.
- How does Libya rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Libya ranks 5th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya 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.