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

Puerto Rico: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 34.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
34.9%
World rank
7th
of 157 countries
All-time high
50.3%
in 1983
All-time low
21.9%
in 2004
Years of data
34
1976–2020

Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico, 1976–2020

02040601976199820201976: 40.41977: 42.41978: 39.41979: 35.61981: 41.31982: 43.81983: 50.31984: 43.51985: 451986: 44.31987: 40.71988: 371990: 33.31991: 34.71992: 35.61993: 33.61995: 28.31996: 291997: 28.71998: 25.21999: 24.82000: 23.32002: 242003: 24.22004: 21.92005: 24.82006: 22.82007: 24.32008: 27.42010: 35.42011: 33.32012: 28.92015: 252020: 34.9

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 Puerto Rico is 34.9%, measured in 2020.

The figure is down 1.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico peaked at 50.3% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 21.9%, in 2004.

Puerto Rico ranks 7th of 157 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Puerto Rico, 1976 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1976 40.4%
1977 42.4% +4.9%
1978 39.4% -7.1%
1979 35.6% -9.6%
1981 41.3% +15.9%
1982 43.8% +6.1%
1983 50.3% +14.8%
1984 43.5% -13.5%
1985 45.0% +3.5%
1986 44.3% -1.6%
1987 40.7% -8.0%
1988 37.0% -9.1%
1990 33.3% -10.0%
1991 34.7% +4.2%
1992 35.6% +2.4%
1993 33.6% -5.6%
1995 28.3% -15.7%
1996 29.0% +2.5%
1997 28.7% -1.2%
1998 25.2% -12.2%
1999 24.8% -1.5%
2000 23.3% -5.9%
2002 24.0% +2.7%
2003 24.2% +0.9%
2004 21.9% -9.6%
2005 24.8% +13.4%
2006 22.8% -8.1%
2007 24.3% +6.4%
2008 27.4% +12.8%
2010 35.4% +29.5%
2011 33.3% -6.0%
2012 28.9% -13.2%
2015 25.0% -13.6%
2020 34.9% +39.8%

Puerto Rico compared with similar countries

  • Puerto Rico's 34.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 2.5× the median. (68 countries reporting)
  • Puerto Rico's 34.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 12.7%, 2.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 39.5% 35.6% 42.4% 4
1980s 43.2% 37.0% 50.3% 8
1990s 30.4% 24.8% 35.6% 9
2000s 24.1% 21.9% 27.4% 8
2010s 30.7% 25.0% 35.4% 4
2020s 34.9% 34.9% 34.9% 1

Countries ranked near Puerto Rico

  1. 4 Tunisia 39.5% compare
  2. 5 Namibia 37.5% compare
  3. 6 Palestine 37.4% compare
  4. 8 Iraq 31.6% compare
  5. 9 New Caledonia 30.9% compare
  6. 10 North Macedonia 30.3% compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More work & labour data for Puerto Rico

All data for Puerto Rico →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico?
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico was 34.9% in 2020, 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 Puerto Rico?
The highest recorded value was 50.3% in 1983.
What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Puerto Rico?
The lowest recorded value was 21.9% in 2004.
How does Puerto Rico rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
Puerto Rico ranks 7th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico. 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/puerto-rico-us/

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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.