Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Romania
Romania: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 24.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Romania, 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 Romania stood at 24.5%.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Romania peaked at 27.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 16.6%, in 2018.
That places Romania 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Romania, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 27.2% | — |
| 1992 | 27.0% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 25.6% | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 24.1% | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 22.5% | -6.8% |
| 1996 | 21.9% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 18.0% | -17.9% |
| 1998 | 17.3% | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 17.6% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 18.0% | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 17.8% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 22.7% | +27.6% |
| 2003 | 19.7% | -13.3% |
| 2004 | 23.2% | +17.7% |
| 2005 | 20.6% | -11.2% |
| 2006 | 21.7% | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 20.6% | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 19.2% | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 21.4% | +11.7% |
| 2010 | 22.2% | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 24.1% | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 22.8% | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 24.0% | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 24.4% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 22.0% | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 21.0% | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 18.7% | -10.9% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | -11.3% |
| 2019 | 17.1% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 17.6% | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 21.1% | +20.3% |
| 2022 | 22.9% | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 21.7% | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 23.6% | +8.9% |
| 2025 | 24.5% | +3.9% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 24.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 1.8× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Romania's 24.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.4%, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.4% | 17.3% | 27.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 20.5% | 17.8% | 23.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.3% | 16.6% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.9% | 17.6% | 24.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More work & labour data for Romania
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7777 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7486 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.8063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.18 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1264 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 10,932 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,465 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,408 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,360 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 10,768 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Romania?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Romania was 24.5% 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.6% in 2018.
- How does Romania rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Romania ranks 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Romania 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.