Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union
European Union: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 16.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union is 16.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 32.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union peaked at 26.8% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 14.7%, in 1990.
European Union ranks 5th of 21 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 19.3% | — |
| 1984 | 20.7% | +6.9% |
| 1985 | 20.8% | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 20.0% | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 19.3% | -3.8% |
| 1988 | 18.4% | -4.5% |
| 1989 | 15.6% | -15.1% |
| 1990 | 14.7% | -6.0% |
| 1991 | 15.7% | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 18.0% | +14.7% |
| 1993 | 21.6% | +20.0% |
| 1994 | 23.6% | +9.5% |
| 1995 | 21.9% | -7.1% |
| 1996 | 22.2% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 21.5% | -3.3% |
| 1998 | 20.0% | -6.7% |
| 1999 | 20.2% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 19.2% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 19.0% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 20.2% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 20.3% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 20.8% | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 20.7% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 18.5% | -10.6% |
| 2007 | 16.1% | -13.3% |
| 2008 | 16.2% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 21.9% | +35.2% |
| 2010 | 23.1% | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 23.6% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 25.9% | +9.8% |
| 2013 | 26.8% | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 25.9% | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 24.4% | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 22.4% | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 20.2% | -10.0% |
| 2018 | 18.3% | -9.5% |
| 2019 | 17.0% | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 18.6% | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 18.3% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | -11.9% |
| 2023 | 16.4% | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 16.5% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 16.5% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 19.2% | 15.6% | 20.8% | 7 |
| 1990s | 19.9% | 14.7% | 23.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.3% | 16.1% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.8% | 17.0% | 26.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.1% | 16.1% | 18.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union was 16.5% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 26.8% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.7% in 1990.
- How does European Union rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- European Union ranks 5th out of 21 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national 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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.