Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 28.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
North Macedonia recorded 28.9% for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 41.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia peaked at 65.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 28.8%, in 2023.
That places North Macedonia 20th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
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 North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 34.9% | — |
| 1992 | 38.9% | +11.3% |
| 1993 | 41.8% | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 45.8% | +9.5% |
| 1995 | 56.5% | +23.4% |
| 1996 | 62.6% | +10.7% |
| 1997 | 58.7% | -6.1% |
| 1998 | 58.4% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 57.7% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 55.6% | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 54.1% | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 58.3% | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 65.2% | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 63.4% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 62.1% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 59.3% | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 57.9% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 56.2% | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 52.7% | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 54.9% | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 55.2% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 54.9% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 52.1% | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 51.9% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 49.7% | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 48.1% | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 45.7% | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 46.4% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 33.2% | -28.4% |
| 2020 | 33.9% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 33.2% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 29.5% | -11.0% |
| 2023 | 28.8% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 29.5% | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 28.9% | -1.9% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 28.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.4%, 2.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 28.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.0%, 1.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | -28.4% | 46.4% | 33.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.6% | 34.9% | 62.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 58.5% | 52.7% | 65.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.2% | 33.2% | 55.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.6% | 28.8% | 33.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More work & labour data for North Macedonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.21 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1782 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,405 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 525.79 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 422.57 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 440.42 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 863 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia was 28.9% 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 65.2% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.8% in 2023.
- How does North Macedonia rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- North Macedonia ranks 20th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.