Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income): Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 13.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) recorded 13.7% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) peaked at 20.6% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 9.1%, in 1991.
That places Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 19th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9.1% | — |
| 1992 | 10.6% | +16.1% |
| 1993 | 12.1% | +14.7% |
| 1994 | 13.7% | +13.3% |
| 1995 | 16.0% | +16.6% |
| 1996 | 18.0% | +12.3% |
| 1997 | 18.5% | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 20.1% | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 20.6% | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 19.3% | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 19.5% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 19.8% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 19.3% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 18.9% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 18.0% | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 16.9% | -5.9% |
| 2007 | 16.1% | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 16.1% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 18.9% | +17.1% |
| 2010 | 17.9% | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 16.6% | -7.1% |
| 2012 | 16.3% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 16.6% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 17.4% | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 17.4% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 17.2% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 18.0% | +8.4% |
| 2020 | 19.0% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 17.8% | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 15.5% | -13.1% |
| 2023 | 14.4% | -7.0% |
| 2024 | 13.8% | -3.9% |
| 2025 | 13.7% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.4% | 9.1% | 20.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.3% | 16.1% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.1% | 16.3% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.7% | 13.7% | 19.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 64.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 69.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 56.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 31.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 49.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 44.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 63.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 50.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.7% (2025)
All data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) was 13.7% 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 Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 20.6% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.1% in 1991.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 19th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 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.