Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in France

France: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 20.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
20.0%
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
32nd
of 157 countries
All-time high
27.2%
in 1994
All-time low
16.0%
in 1983
Years of data
43
1983–2025

Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in France, 1983–2025

01020301983200420251983: 161984: 20.81985: 22.91986: 21.51987: 201988: 19.11989: 16.21990: 16.81991: 171992: 18.61993: 23.51994: 27.21995: 23.71996: 251997: 271998: 24.11999: 24.72000: 192001: 162002: 17.52003: 16.52004: 19.72005: 20.12006: 21.22007: 18.92008: 19.22009: 25.12010: 22.82011: 22.22012: 25.32013: 24.12014: 25.82015: 26.62016: 25.32017: 23.52018: 222019: 21.12020: 20.42021: 19.52022: 19.22023: 18.42024: 19.72025: 20

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 France is 20.0%, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and down 24.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in France peaked at 27.2% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 16.0%, in 1983.

That places France 32nd out of 157 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.

Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in France, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in France, 1983 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1983 16.0%
1984 20.8% +30.1%
1985 22.9% +10.2%
1986 21.5% -6.0%
1987 20.0% -7.2%
1988 19.1% -4.2%
1989 16.2% -15.5%
1990 16.8% +4.2%
1991 17.0% +1.1%
1992 18.6% +9.3%
1993 23.5% +26.4%
1994 27.2% +15.6%
1995 23.7% -12.9%
1996 25.0% +5.7%
1997 27.0% +7.7%
1998 24.1% -10.5%
1999 24.7% +2.5%
2000 19.0% -23.2%
2001 16.0% -15.8%
2002 17.5% +9.2%
2003 16.5% -5.6%
2004 19.7% +19.8%
2005 20.1% +1.9%
2006 21.2% +5.2%
2007 18.9% -10.6%
2008 19.2% +1.3%
2009 25.1% +31.0%
2010 22.8% -9.3%
2011 22.2% -2.6%
2012 25.3% +14.1%
2013 24.1% -4.7%
2014 25.8% +7.0%
2015 26.6% +3.2%
2016 25.3% -4.7%
2017 23.5% -7.1%
2018 22.0% -6.7%
2019 21.1% -4.0%
2020 20.4% -3.0%
2021 19.5% -4.8%
2022 19.2% -1.2%
2023 18.4% -4.2%
2024 19.7% +6.7%
2025 20.0% +1.7%

France compared with similar countries

  • France's 20.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 1.4× the median. (68 countries reporting)
  • France's 20.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.3%, 1.3× the median. (51 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 19.5% 16.0% 22.9% 7
1990s 22.8% 16.8% 27.2% 10
2000s 19.3% 16.0% 25.1% 10
2010s 23.9% 21.1% 26.6% 10
2020s 19.5% 18.4% 20.4% 6

Countries ranked near France

  1. 29 Zimbabwe 20.4% compare
  2. 30 Serbia 20.4% compare
  3. 31 Angola 20.2% compare
  4. 33 Italy 19.5% compare
  5. 34 Chile 19.4% compare
  6. 35 Belgium 18.8% compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More work & labour data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in France?
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in France was 20.0% 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 France?
The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 1994.
What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 16.0% in 1983.
How does France rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
France ranks 32nd out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is down 24.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this France 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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Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in France. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-youth-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-ages-15-24-national-estimate/france/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
178 places, 4,082 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.