Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 12.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latin America & Caribbean, 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 Latin America & Caribbean is 12.2%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 5.2% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 20.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.0%, in 1993.
Latin America & Caribbean ranks 29th of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.4% | — |
| 1992 | 11.4% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 11.0% | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 12.1% | +9.8% |
| 1995 | 14.4% | +18.5% |
| 1996 | 15.0% | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 14.9% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 15.6% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 16.9% | +8.5% |
| 2000 | 17.2% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 16.6% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 17.6% | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 17.6% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 17.1% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 16.4% | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 15.4% | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 14.7% | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 14.3% | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 15.9% | +11.6% |
| 2010 | 15.0% | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 14.4% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 13.7% | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 13.9% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 13.8% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 14.7% | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 17.0% | +15.2% |
| 2017 | 17.4% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 17.4% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 17.4% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 20.6% | +18.4% |
| 2021 | 18.5% | -10.3% |
| 2022 | 14.8% | -20.2% |
| 2023 | 13.4% | -9.2% |
| 2024 | 12.8% | -4.2% |
| 2025 | 12.2% | -5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.6% | 11.0% | 16.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 16.3% | 14.3% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.5% | 13.7% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.4% | 12.2% | 20.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
More work & labour data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 62.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 39.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 55.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 47.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 57.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 80.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 68.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 69.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latin America & Caribbean was 12.2% 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 Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 20.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.0% in 1993.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 29th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean 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.