Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 9.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Least developed countries, 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 Least developed countries stood at 9.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Least developed countries peaked at 11.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 1996.
That places Least developed countries 41st out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.9% | — |
| 1992 | 9.0% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 9.1% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 9.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 8.9% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 8.9% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 8.9% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 9.1% | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 9.4% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 9.6% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 9.5% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 9.3% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 9.1% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 9.4% | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 9.6% | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 9.3% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 9.4% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 9.5% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 9.7% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 9.6% | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 10.0% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 10.1% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 10.0% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 10.0% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 10.3% | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 10.5% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 10.8% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 10.5% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 10.3% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 11.7% | +13.3% |
| 2021 | 11.5% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 10.4% | -10.1% |
| 2023 | 9.7% | -6.4% |
| 2024 | 9.7% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 9.8% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.0% | 8.9% | 9.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.4% | 9.1% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.2% | 9.6% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.5% | 9.7% | 11.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More work & labour data for Least developed countries
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 45.1% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 73.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 63.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 53.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 54.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 52.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 49.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Least developed countries?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Least developed countries was 9.8% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 11.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 1996.
- How does Least developed countries rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Least developed countries ranks 41st out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.