Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia
Colombia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 17.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia, 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 Colombia is 17.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 9.1% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia peaked at 37.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.9%, in 1993.
Colombia ranks 65th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.1% | — |
| 1992 | 18.0% | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 14.9% | -17.6% |
| 1994 | 15.7% | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 16.4% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 21.9% | +33.3% |
| 1997 | 22.5% | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 27.6% | +22.8% |
| 1999 | 36.5% | +32.2% |
| 2000 | 37.4% | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 27.5% | -26.5% |
| 2002 | 26.9% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 25.2% | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 26.3% | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 22.6% | -14.2% |
| 2006 | 22.3% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 22.2% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 22.8% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 23.5% | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 22.6% | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 21.2% | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 20.1% | -5.1% |
| 2013 | 18.7% | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 18.2% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 18.3% | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 18.5% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 19.4% | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 20.7% | +6.2% |
| 2020 | 27.2% | +31.9% |
| 2021 | 24.8% | -9.1% |
| 2022 | 21.0% | -15.3% |
| 2023 | 19.4% | -7.7% |
| 2024 | 19.4% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 17.7% | -9.1% |
Colombia compared with similar countries
- Colombia's 17.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.8%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Colombia's 17.7% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 14.0%, 1.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.4% | 14.9% | 36.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 25.7% | 22.2% | 37.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.5% | 17.3% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.6% | 17.7% | 27.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Colombia
More work & labour data for Colombia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7218 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6981 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7453 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1417 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 48,629 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 6,104 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 23,624 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 23,456 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 47,081 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Colombia was 17.7% 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 Colombia?
- The highest recorded value was 37.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Colombia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.9% in 1993.
- How does Colombia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Colombia ranks 65th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Colombia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Colombia 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.