Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 14.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia, 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 Europe & Central Asia is 14.0%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 29.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 21.5% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 14.0%, in 2025.
Europe & Central Asia ranks 18th 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, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 14.9% | — |
| 1992 | 15.9% | +6.9% |
| 1993 | 18.2% | +14.6% |
| 1994 | 19.6% | +7.5% |
| 1995 | 20.3% | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 21.0% | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 21.2% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 21.5% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 21.2% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 19.6% | -7.5% |
| 2001 | 18.9% | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 18.9% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 19.1% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 19.0% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 18.6% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 17.7% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 16.0% | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 15.9% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 19.8% | +24.5% |
| 2010 | 20.0% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 19.7% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 20.6% | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 20.9% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 20.5% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 19.9% | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 19.1% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 17.9% | -6.3% |
| 2018 | 16.8% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 16.5% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 18.2% | +10.3% |
| 2021 | 17.5% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 15.2% | -13.0% |
| 2023 | 14.5% | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 14.1% | -2.7% |
| 2025 | 14.0% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.3% | 14.9% | 21.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.4% | 15.9% | 19.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.2% | 16.5% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.6% | 14.0% | 18.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 35.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 44.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 72.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia was 14.0% 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?
- The highest recorded value was 21.5% in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.0% in 2025.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 18th 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?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.