Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 14.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico stood at 14.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.9% on the previous year and down 47.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico peaked at 35.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 13.1%, in 2024.
That places Puerto Rico 85th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 34.1% | — |
| 1992 | 34.1% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 30.6% | -10.5% |
| 1994 | 27.0% | -11.5% |
| 1995 | 26.5% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 27.9% | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 27.3% | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 25.1% | -8.0% |
| 1999 | 22.9% | -8.8% |
| 2000 | 20.6% | -10.0% |
| 2001 | 22.8% | +10.6% |
| 2002 | 23.3% | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 23.3% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 21.4% | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 23.5% | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 22.5% | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 22.3% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 24.6% | +10.4% |
| 2009 | 32.5% | +32.0% |
| 2010 | 35.4% | +9.1% |
| 2011 | 34.6% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 32.0% | -7.5% |
| 2013 | 31.6% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 30.7% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 26.6% | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 26.2% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 24.1% | -8.2% |
| 2018 | 20.5% | -14.8% |
| 2019 | 18.6% | -9.4% |
| 2020 | 19.6% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 17.2% | -12.1% |
| 2022 | 13.7% | -20.4% |
| 2023 | 13.2% | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 13.1% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 14.0% | +6.9% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 14.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 14.0% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 14.0%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.4% | 22.9% | 34.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 23.7% | 20.6% | 32.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.0% | 18.6% | 35.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 13.1% | 19.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More work & labour data for Puerto Rico
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -2.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -2.19 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -2.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.36 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.5786 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,139 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 142.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 521.69 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 473.93 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 995.62 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico was 14.0% 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 35.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.1% in 2024.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Puerto Rico ranks 85th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.