Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Panama
Panama: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 16.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Panama, 1990–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Panama recorded 16.5% for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.0% on the previous year and up 74.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Panama peaked at 30.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 2012.
Panama ranks 52nd of 157 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Panama, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 18.5% | — |
| 2009 | 11.9% | -35.7% |
| 2010 | 10.8% | -9.3% |
| 2011 | 10.0% | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | -21.1% |
| 2013 | 8.3% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 10.3% | +23.1% |
| 2015 | 9.5% | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 10.3% | +9.1% |
| 2017 | 12.2% | +17.8% |
| 2018 | 10.7% | -11.9% |
| 2019 | 13.6% | +26.4% |
| 2020 | 30.8% | +126.7% |
| 2021 | 19.8% | -35.6% |
| 2022 | 16.9% | -14.8% |
| 2023 | 13.5% | -20.1% |
| 2024 | 15.0% | +11.3% |
| 2025 | 16.5% | +10.0% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 16.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 1.2× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Panama's 16.5% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.7%, 1.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.5% | 18.5% | 18.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 11.9% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 10.4% | 7.9% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.7% | 13.5% | 30.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More work & labour data for Panama
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.192 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1956 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1888 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,652 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,175 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,950 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,955 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,905 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Panama?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Panama 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 Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 30.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 2012.
- How does Panama rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Panama ranks 52nd out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Panama 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.