Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Myanmar
Myanmar: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 9.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Myanmar, 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 Myanmar stood at 9.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and up 517.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Myanmar peaked at 12.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 2019.
Myanmar ranks 118th 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 Myanmar, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.4% | — |
| 1992 | 1.3% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 1.3% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 1.3% | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 1.3% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 1.3% | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 1.3% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 1.4% | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 1.4% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 1.4% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 1.5% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 1.5% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 1.5% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 1.6% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 1.6% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 1.6% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | +60.6% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | +40.6% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | -48.6% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | -28.8% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +277.4% |
| 2021 | 12.8% | +158.7% |
| 2022 | 10.1% | -20.8% |
| 2023 | 10.1% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 10.0% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 9.8% | -1.6% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 9.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.1%, 97% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 9.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.0%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Myanmar 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +277.4% | 1.3% | 5.0% |
| 2021 | +158.7% | 5.0% | 12.8% |
| 2016 | +60.6% | 1.6% | 2.6% |
| 2018 | -48.6% | 3.6% | 1.8% |
| 2017 | +40.6% | 2.6% | 3.6% |
| 2019 | -28.8% | 1.8% | 1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.3% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.6% | 5.0% | 12.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
- 115 Central African Republic 10.1% compare
- 116 Turkmenistan 10.0% compare
- 117 Saudi Arabia 10.0% compare
- 119 Australia 9.6% compare
- 120 Pakistan 9.6% compare
- 121 Nicaragua 9.5% compare
More work & labour data for Myanmar
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.5005 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4735 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5269 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.46 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 29,392 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 32,967 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 25,258 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 24,401 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 49,659 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Myanmar?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Myanmar 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 Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 12.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 2019.
- How does Myanmar rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Myanmar ranks 118th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 517.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Myanmar 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.