Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 10.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia is 10.0%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 13.0% on the previous year and down 64.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia peaked at 33.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 2025.
Saudi Arabia ranks 117th of 187 countries on this measure, 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 33.0% | — |
| 1992 | 32.7% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 32.5% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 31.9% | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 30.7% | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 28.7% | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 26.7% | -7.0% |
| 1998 | 24.5% | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 22.8% | -7.1% |
| 2000 | 22.8% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 22.4% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 23.9% | +6.5% |
| 2003 | 24.4% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 25.1% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 25.8% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 26.5% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 23.8% | -10.0% |
| 2008 | 23.3% | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 24.7% | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 24.7% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 25.1% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 24.8% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 26.9% | +8.5% |
| 2014 | 28.6% | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 28.2% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 24.3% | -13.8% |
| 2017 | 31.5% | +29.8% |
| 2018 | 30.2% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 25.5% | -15.7% |
| 2020 | 29.6% | +16.3% |
| 2021 | 19.8% | -33.3% |
| 2022 | 16.0% | -19.3% |
| 2023 | 13.5% | -15.6% |
| 2024 | 11.5% | -14.6% |
| 2025 | 10.0% | -13.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 10.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 73% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 10.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 21.9%, 46% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 29.3% | 22.8% | 33.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 24.3% | 22.4% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.0% | 24.3% | 31.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.7% | 10.0% | 29.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More work & labour data for Saudi Arabia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5946 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.6842 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5985 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 40,709 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 4,348 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 31,198 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 39,809 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 71,007 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Saudi Arabia was 10.0% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 2025.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 117th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.