Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 4.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
United Arab Emirates recorded 4.7% for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates peaked at 12.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 1991.
That places United Arab Emirates 159th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom 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 United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.9% | — |
| 1992 | 4.0% | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 4.3% | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 4.6% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 4.8% | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 5.0% | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 5.2% | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 5.4% | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 6.1% | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 6.3% | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 6.6% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 6.2% | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 5.2% | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 4.7% | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 4.4% | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | +25.9% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -9.8% |
| 2019 | 4.9% | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | +143.8% |
| 2021 | 6.9% | -42.1% |
| 2022 | 5.8% | -16.0% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | -26.6% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 4.7% | +7.5% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 4.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 34% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 4.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 19.3%, 24% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +143.8% | 4.9% | 12.0% |
| 2021 | -42.1% | 12.0% | 6.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.4% | 3.9% | 5.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.1% | 5.2% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 4.1% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.3% | 4.3% | 12.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 156 Madagascar 5.2% compare
- 157 Sierra Leone 5.1% compare
- 158 Burkina Faso 4.9% compare
- 160 Cuba 4.6% compare
- 161 Papua New Guinea 4.6% compare
- 162 Bolivia 4.5% compare
More work & labour data for United Arab Emirates
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.9136 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.7692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7766 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 12,158 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,005 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 11,620 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 14,514 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 26,134 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in United Arab Emirates was 4.7% 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 1991.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 159th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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.