Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 9.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia, 1992–2025
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 Saudi Arabia is 9.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and down 57.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 25.5% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 8.6%, in 2024.
Saudi Arabia ranks 104th of 157 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 24.3% | — |
| 2007 | 25.5% | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 24.1% | -5.7% |
| 2009 | 23.5% | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 20.8% | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 21.1% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 21.4% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 24.3% | +13.5% |
| 2018 | 22.8% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 17.2% | -24.8% |
| 2020 | 21.6% | +26.1% |
| 2021 | 16.5% | -23.7% |
| 2022 | 11.6% | -29.9% |
| 2023 | 10.7% | -7.4% |
| 2024 | 8.6% | -20.1% |
| 2025 | 9.1% | +6.8% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 9.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 65% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 9.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11.7%, 78% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.3% | 24.3% | 24.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 24.4% | 23.5% | 25.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 21.3% | 17.2% | 24.3% | 6 |
| 2020s | 13.0% | 8.6% | 21.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 101 Kuwait 9.4% compare
- 102 Malta 9.2% compare
- 103 Kyrgyzstan 9.2% compare
- 105 Netherlands 9.1% compare
- 106 Ghana 9.1% compare
- 107 Dominican Republic 9.1% compare
More work & labour data for Saudi Arabia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5946 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6842 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5985 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 40,709 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 4,348 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 31,198 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 39,809 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 71,007 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia was 9.1% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.5% in 2007.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.6% in 2024.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 104th out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.