Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … modeled in Moldova
Moldova: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … modeled was 4.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Moldova, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Moldova recorded 4.2% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is down 6.7% on the previous year and up 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Moldova peaked at 20.9% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 2021.
That places Moldova 166th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … modeled in Moldova, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.6% | — |
| 1992 | 7.0% | +93.1% |
| 1993 | 7.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 11.0% | +56.3% |
| 1995 | 10.1% | -8.5% |
| 1996 | 14.9% | +48.1% |
| 1997 | 15.0% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 18.8% | +25.6% |
| 1999 | 20.9% | +11.2% |
| 2000 | 16.0% | -23.4% |
| 2001 | 16.5% | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | -7.0% |
| 2003 | 14.8% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 15.5% | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 14.6% | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 9.8% | -33.1% |
| 2007 | 7.6% | -22.6% |
| 2008 | 5.9% | -22.3% |
| 2009 | 6.7% | +13.3% |
| 2010 | 5.7% | -14.7% |
| 2011 | 4.9% | -14.4% |
| 2012 | 3.5% | -29.0% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | -14.5% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -22.2% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +45.4% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | -9.6% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | +30.0% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | -18.3% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | +24.5% |
| 2021 | 1.8% | -55.7% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | +61.7% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | +38.8% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | +11.5% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | -6.7% |
Moldova compared with similar countries
- Moldova's 4.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.8%, 27% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Moldova's 4.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.4%, 29% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.0% | 3.6% | 20.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 5.9% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | 2.3% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 1.8% | 4.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Moldova
More work & labour data for Moldova
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 654.38 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 72.49 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 1,725 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 1.5 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 0.726 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 24,890 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 5,854 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 71.4 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) -0.868 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -0.4043 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Moldova?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Moldova was 4.2% 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 Moldova?
- The highest recorded value was 20.9% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Moldova?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 2021.
- How does Moldova rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Moldova ranks 166th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Moldova?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Moldova 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.