Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 7.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia stood at 7.0%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 17.4% on the previous year and down 66.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 34.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 7.0%, in 2025.
That places Saudi Arabia 141st out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 34.8% | — |
| 1992 | 34.4% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 34.2% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 33.4% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 32.0% | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 29.5% | -7.7% |
| 1997 | 27.0% | -8.6% |
| 1998 | 24.2% | -10.4% |
| 1999 | 21.7% | -10.4% |
| 2000 | 20.5% | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 20.6% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 21.0% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 21.3% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 21.7% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 22.2% | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 22.7% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 20.4% | -10.2% |
| 2008 | 19.2% | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 20.0% | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 20.1% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 20.4% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 18.7% | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 20.3% | +8.3% |
| 2014 | 21.4% | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 20.9% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 18.7% | -10.4% |
| 2017 | 25.1% | +34.5% |
| 2018 | 23.6% | -6.3% |
| 2019 | 18.1% | -23.2% |
| 2020 | 22.6% | +24.7% |
| 2021 | 17.0% | -24.8% |
| 2022 | 12.0% | -29.1% |
| 2023 | 10.3% | -13.9% |
| 2024 | 8.4% | -18.6% |
| 2025 | 7.0% | -17.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 7.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 50% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 7.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 19.3%, 36% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.1% | 21.7% | 34.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 20.9% | 19.2% | 22.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.7% | 18.1% | 25.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.9% | 7.0% | 22.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 138 Russia 7.4% compare
- 139 Trinidad and Tobago 7.4% compare
- 140 North Korea 7.2% compare
- 142 South Korea 6.7% compare
- 143 Vietnam 6.7% compare
- 144 Malawi 6.6% compare
More work & labour data for Saudi Arabia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5946 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6842 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5985 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 40,709 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 4,348 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 31,198 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 39,809 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 71,007 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia was 7.0% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 34.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.0% in 2025.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 141st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.