Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in East Asia & Pacific
East Asia & Pacific: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 12.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in East Asia & Pacific, 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 East Asia & Pacific is 12.5%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in East Asia & Pacific peaked at 12.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 1991.
East Asia & Pacific ranks 27th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in East Asia & Pacific, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.1% | — |
| 1992 | 5.2% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 5.7% | +11.1% |
| 1994 | 6.5% | +13.5% |
| 1995 | 6.8% | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 7.2% | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 7.5% | +4.3% |
| 1998 | 8.2% | +9.6% |
| 1999 | 8.7% | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 8.5% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 9.3% | +9.2% |
| 2002 | 10.0% | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 10.4% | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 10.5% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 10.8% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 10.5% | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 10.2% | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 10.2% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 10.5% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 9.9% | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 10.0% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 9.8% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 9.9% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 10.1% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 10.4% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 10.2% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 9.9% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 9.5% | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 9.7% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 11.2% | +16.0% |
| 2021 | 11.2% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 12.1% | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 12.4% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 12.2% | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 12.5% | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.8% | 5.1% | 8.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 10.1% | 8.5% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.9% | 9.5% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.9% | 11.2% | 12.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific
More work & labour data for East Asia & Pacific
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 72.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 43.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 49.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 46.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 67.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 80.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 58.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in East Asia & Pacific?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in East Asia & Pacific was 12.5% 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 East Asia & Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 12.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 1991.
- How does East Asia & Pacific rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- East Asia & Pacific ranks 27th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific 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.