Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland
Ireland: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 10.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland, 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 Ireland stood at 10.5%.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 48.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland peaked at 30.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 2001.
That places Ireland 110th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 21.8% | — |
| 1992 | 21.3% | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 23.2% | +8.8% |
| 1994 | 21.4% | -7.6% |
| 1995 | 17.6% | -17.9% |
| 1996 | 16.9% | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 14.9% | -11.6% |
| 1998 | 10.9% | -27.2% |
| 1999 | 8.2% | -24.4% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | -23.8% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | -6.4% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | +25.6% |
| 2003 | 7.7% | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 7.9% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 7.8% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 9.2% | +15.8% |
| 2008 | 13.5% | +47.1% |
| 2009 | 24.5% | +81.9% |
| 2010 | 28.2% | +14.9% |
| 2011 | 29.6% | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 30.8% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | -13.2% |
| 2014 | 23.4% | -12.4% |
| 2015 | 20.2% | -13.6% |
| 2016 | 16.8% | -17.0% |
| 2017 | 14.4% | -14.3% |
| 2018 | 13.8% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 12.5% | -9.4% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | +22.5% |
| 2021 | 15.6% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | -39.9% |
| 2023 | 10.2% | +8.2% |
| 2024 | 10.4% | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 10.5% | +0.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 10.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 76% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 10.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.4%, 73% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.4% | 8.2% | 23.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.8% | 5.9% | 24.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.6% | 12.5% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.9% | 9.4% | 15.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ireland was 10.5% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 30.8% in 2012.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 2001.
- How does Ireland rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Ireland ranks 110th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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.