Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 28.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia, 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 North Macedonia stood at 28.8%.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 39.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia peaked at 68.9% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 28.7%, in 2024.
North Macedonia ranks 22nd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 42.9% | — |
| 1992 | 46.2% | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 48.9% | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 53.2% | +8.7% |
| 1995 | 63.1% | +18.8% |
| 1996 | 68.9% | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 63.8% | -7.3% |
| 1998 | 61.6% | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 58.3% | -5.4% |
| 2000 | 58.3% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 55.5% | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 58.4% | +5.2% |
| 2003 | 65.8% | +12.5% |
| 2004 | 64.2% | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 62.0% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 60.1% | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 58.2% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 56.8% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 55.2% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 55.2% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 55.1% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 53.7% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 51.6% | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 53.1% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 47.5% | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 48.5% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 46.8% | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 45.5% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 35.4% | -22.3% |
| 2020 | 35.6% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 36.1% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 32.6% | -9.7% |
| 2023 | 29.7% | -8.9% |
| 2024 | 28.7% | -3.5% |
| 2025 | 28.8% | +0.3% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 28.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.8%, 1.8× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 28.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.4%, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.3% | 42.9% | 68.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 59.5% | 55.2% | 65.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.2% | 35.4% | 55.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.9% | 28.7% | 36.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More work & labour data for North Macedonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.21 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1782 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,405 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 525.79 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 422.57 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 440.42 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 863 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia was 28.8% 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 68.9% in 1996.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.7% in 2024.
- How does North Macedonia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- North Macedonia ranks 22nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.