Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan
Pakistan: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 9.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan is 9.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 43.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan peaked at 11.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2007.
That places Pakistan 120th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.0% | — |
| 1992 | 1.0% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 1.0% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 1.0% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 1.0% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 1.0% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 1.0% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 1.0% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 0.9% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 0.9% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 0.9% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | -12.7% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | +20.7% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | +19.2% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | +33.6% |
| 2012 | 7.6% | +339.6% |
| 2013 | 6.0% | -20.9% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | -32.2% |
| 2015 | 6.7% | +64.9% |
| 2016 | 5.2% | -22.7% |
| 2017 | 6.5% | +26.2% |
| 2018 | 7.9% | +20.6% |
| 2019 | 9.6% | +22.1% |
| 2020 | 10.7% | +11.9% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 9.4% | -14.5% |
| 2023 | 9.4% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 9.5% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 9.6% | +0.8% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 9.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.1%, 95% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 9.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 21.9%, 44% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +339.6% | 1.7% | 7.6% |
| 2015 | +64.9% | 4.1% | 6.7% |
| 2011 | +33.6% | 1.3% | 1.7% |
| 2014 | -32.2% | 6.0% | 4.1% |
| 2017 | +26.2% | 5.2% | 6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 1.3% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More work & labour data for Pakistan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1692 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1724 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.4553 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 160,228 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 146,712 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 259,090 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 251,911 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 511,001 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Pakistan was 9.6% 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 11.1% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2007.
- How does Pakistan rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Pakistan ranks 120th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.