Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in European Union
European Union: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 16.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in European Union, 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 European Union is 16.2%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in European Union peaked at 26.9% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 16.2%, in 2025.
European Union ranks 9th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 19.1% | — |
| 1992 | 20.2% | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 23.6% | +17.0% |
| 1994 | 24.9% | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 24.3% | -2.6% |
| 1996 | 24.4% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 23.3% | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 21.8% | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 22.0% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 20.7% | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 20.2% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 21.0% | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 21.0% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 21.3% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 21.4% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 19.5% | -8.7% |
| 2007 | 17.0% | -13.1% |
| 2008 | 16.9% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 21.5% | +27.0% |
| 2010 | 22.9% | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 23.7% | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 26.0% | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 26.9% | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 26.0% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 24.2% | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 22.4% | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 20.1% | -10.3% |
| 2018 | 18.1% | -9.9% |
| 2019 | 17.0% | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 19.0% | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 18.7% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 16.4% | -12.7% |
| 2023 | 16.2% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 16.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 16.2% | -0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.6% | 19.1% | 24.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 20.1% | 16.9% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.7% | 17.0% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.1% | 16.2% | 19.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in European Union?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in European Union was 16.2% 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 European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 26.9% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.2% in 2025.
- How does European Union rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- European Union ranks 9th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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.