Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latvia
Latvia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 12.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latvia, 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 Latvia stood at 12.9%.
That represents a change of down 4.9% on the previous year and down 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latvia peaked at 38.3% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 1991.
Latvia ranks 95th of 187 countries 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 Latvia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.0% | — |
| 1992 | 12.1% | +140.8% |
| 1993 | 30.6% | +152.4% |
| 1994 | 34.3% | +12.3% |
| 1995 | 35.0% | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 38.3% | +9.2% |
| 1997 | 27.6% | -27.7% |
| 1998 | 27.0% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 23.5% | -12.7% |
| 2000 | 21.3% | -9.6% |
| 2001 | 24.2% | +13.6% |
| 2002 | 25.3% | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 20.4% | -19.1% |
| 2004 | 21.8% | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 15.1% | -30.5% |
| 2006 | 13.6% | -10.1% |
| 2007 | 10.6% | -22.4% |
| 2008 | 13.6% | +29.2% |
| 2009 | 33.4% | +145.0% |
| 2010 | 36.2% | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 31.1% | -14.3% |
| 2012 | 28.6% | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 23.2% | -18.6% |
| 2014 | 19.6% | -15.7% |
| 2015 | 16.3% | -16.7% |
| 2016 | 17.3% | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 17.0% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 12.2% | -28.2% |
| 2019 | 12.4% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 14.9% | +19.8% |
| 2021 | 14.8% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 15.3% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 12.3% | -19.3% |
| 2024 | 13.6% | +10.5% |
| 2025 | 12.9% | -4.9% |
Latvia compared with similar countries
- Latvia's 12.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 94% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Latvia's 12.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.4%, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latvia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +152.4% | 12.1% | 30.6% |
| 2009 | +145.0% | 13.6% | 33.4% |
| 1992 | +140.8% | 5.0% | 12.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.9% | 5.0% | 38.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.9% | 10.6% | 33.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.4% | 12.2% | 36.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.0% | 12.3% | 15.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latvia
More work & labour data for Latvia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.04 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.94 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.2718 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,152 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 365.13 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 470.3 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 455.07 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 925.37 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latvia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latvia was 12.9% 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 Latvia?
- The highest recorded value was 38.3% in 1996.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Latvia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 1991.
- How does Latvia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Latvia ranks 95th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Latvia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latvia 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.