Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan
Bhutan: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 17.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan is 17.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 4.9% on the previous year and up 68.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan peaked at 27.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 1999.
That places Bhutan 67th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.2% | — |
| 1992 | 4.2% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 4.3% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 4.2% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 4.2% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | +16.9% |
| 2001 | 5.6% | +14.2% |
| 2002 | 5.5% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 5.4% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 7.5% | +39.2% |
| 2005 | 9.4% | +26.0% |
| 2006 | 9.5% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 11.4% | +19.6% |
| 2008 | 11.9% | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 12.4% | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 8.8% | -29.3% |
| 2011 | 8.9% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 7.0% | -21.6% |
| 2013 | 9.4% | +34.5% |
| 2014 | 9.0% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 10.1% | +12.1% |
| 2016 | 11.6% | +14.8% |
| 2017 | 13.4% | +15.0% |
| 2018 | 15.2% | +13.8% |
| 2019 | 11.6% | -23.9% |
| 2020 | 22.0% | +90.2% |
| 2021 | 20.6% | -6.3% |
| 2022 | 27.2% | +31.9% |
| 2023 | 14.9% | -45.0% |
| 2024 | 17.9% | +20.0% |
| 2025 | 17.1% | -4.9% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 17.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.1%, 1.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 17.1% is above the median for South Asia, which is 16.5%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +90.2% | 11.6% | 22.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.4% | 4.9% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.5% | 7.0% | 15.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.9% | 14.9% | 27.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More work & labour data for Bhutan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7164 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6963 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7381 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.816 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9406 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 573.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 420.94 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 334.32 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 356.11 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 690.43 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bhutan was 17.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 1999.
- How does Bhutan rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Bhutan ranks 67th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO 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.