Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Maldives
Maldives: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 15.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Maldives, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Maldives recorded 15.7% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.0% on the previous year and down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Maldives peaked at 24.7% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1991.
Maldives ranks 75th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Maldives, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.8% | — |
| 1992 | 1.8% | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 1.8% | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 1.9% | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 1.9% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 2.4% | +26.7% |
| 1997 | 2.9% | +21.3% |
| 1998 | 3.4% | +17.8% |
| 1999 | 3.9% | +15.0% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | +13.0% |
| 2001 | 6.7% | +52.3% |
| 2002 | 8.9% | +33.4% |
| 2003 | 11.1% | +24.3% |
| 2004 | 13.3% | +19.3% |
| 2005 | 15.6% | +17.6% |
| 2006 | 17.7% | +13.6% |
| 2007 | 19.9% | +12.1% |
| 2008 | 21.9% | +10.2% |
| 2009 | 24.7% | +12.6% |
| 2010 | 23.3% | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 22.1% | -5.3% |
| 2012 | 20.8% | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 19.6% | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 18.4% | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 16.8% | -8.4% |
| 2016 | 15.1% | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 14.6% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 14.0% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 13.5% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 16.1% | +19.7% |
| 2021 | 15.3% | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 14.3% | -6.8% |
| 2023 | 14.1% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 14.8% | +4.8% |
| 2025 | 15.7% | +6.0% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 15.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.8%, 99% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 15.7% is below the median for South Asia, which is 16.5%, 95% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.4% | 1.8% | 3.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 14.4% | 4.4% | 24.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.8% | 13.5% | 23.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 14.1% | 16.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
More work & labour data for Maldives
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.3002 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4913 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1384 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.545 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 310.55 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 265.89 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 257.6 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 217.32 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 474.92 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Maldives?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Maldives was 15.7% 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 Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 24.7% in 2009.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1991.
- How does Maldives rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Maldives ranks 75th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Maldives 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.