Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries): Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 12.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) stood at 12.1%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 31.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 22.5% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 12.1%, in 2025.
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 30th of 47 groups 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 Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 13.4% | — |
| 1992 | 14.3% | +6.6% |
| 1993 | 15.5% | +8.2% |
| 1994 | 17.1% | +10.4% |
| 1995 | 18.7% | +9.8% |
| 1996 | 19.7% | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 20.6% | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 22.4% | +8.4% |
| 1999 | 22.5% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 21.3% | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 21.2% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 21.0% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 21.0% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 20.5% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 19.0% | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 18.1% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 16.2% | -10.4% |
| 2008 | 15.7% | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 19.0% | +21.0% |
| 2010 | 18.4% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 17.5% | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 17.3% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 17.4% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 17.7% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 17.5% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 16.9% | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 16.3% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 16.5% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 17.8% | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 17.1% | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 15.1% | -11.9% |
| 2023 | 13.5% | -10.2% |
| 2024 | 12.4% | -8.5% |
| 2025 | 12.1% | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.2% | 13.4% | 22.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.3% | 15.7% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.3% | 16.3% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.7% | 12.1% | 17.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 48.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 68.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 29.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 41.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 35.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 71.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 69.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 60.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) was 12.1% 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 Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 22.5% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.1% in 2025.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 30th 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 (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.