Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan
Pakistan: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 12.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan, 1988–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan stood at 12.3%.
That represents a change of up 117.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan peaked at 15.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2007.
Pakistan ranks 80th of 157 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 5.8% | — |
| 1990 | 5.7% | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 7.9% | +38.7% |
| 1992 | 7.3% | -6.9% |
| 1993 | 6.5% | -11.5% |
| 1994 | 6.9% | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 7.6% | +9.4% |
| 1997 | 7.9% | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 8.8% | +11.5% |
| 2000 | 11.1% | +26.7% |
| 2002 | 12.0% | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 11.0% | -8.6% |
| 2006 | 1.0% | -90.7% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | -12.0% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | +31.0% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | +12.0% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | +35.9% |
| 2012 | 8.5% | +366.7% |
| 2013 | 6.0% | -28.6% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | -33.3% |
| 2015 | 5.7% | +40.2% |
| 2016 | 5.3% | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 8.2% | +53.7% |
| 2019 | 9.8% | +20.2% |
| 2020 | 15.2% | +55.5% |
| 2021 | 10.0% | -34.3% |
| 2025 | 12.3% | +22.7% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 12.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.6%, 1.4× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 12.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11.7%, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +366.7% | 1.8% | 8.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 7.3% | 5.7% | 8.8% | 8 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 0.9% | 12.0% | 7 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 1.3% | 9.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 12.5% | 10.0% | 15.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan was 12.3% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 15.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2007.
- How does Pakistan rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Pakistan ranks 80th out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 117.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.