Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uruguay
Uruguay: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 25.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uruguay, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Uruguay recorded 25.1% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.8% on the previous year and up 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uruguay peaked at 38.1% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 18.1%, in 2011.
Uruguay ranks 29th 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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 24.7% | — |
| 1992 | 24.1% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 23.3% | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 24.5% | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 25.0% | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 29.9% | +19.6% |
| 1997 | 28.2% | -5.6% |
| 1998 | 22.9% | -19.0% |
| 1999 | 24.5% | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 29.3% | +19.6% |
| 2001 | 34.5% | +17.8% |
| 2002 | 37.9% | +10.0% |
| 2003 | 38.1% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 33.1% | -13.2% |
| 2005 | 29.1% | -12.1% |
| 2006 | 28.1% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 24.9% | -11.4% |
| 2008 | 22.4% | -10.2% |
| 2009 | 21.0% | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 20.7% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 18.1% | -12.8% |
| 2012 | 18.6% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 19.3% | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 22.9% | +17.8% |
| 2016 | 24.1% | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 25.3% | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 26.5% | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 28.5% | +7.3% |
| 2020 | 34.2% | +20.2% |
| 2021 | 31.8% | -7.0% |
| 2022 | 25.3% | -20.4% |
| 2023 | 26.2% | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 26.7% | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 25.1% | -5.8% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 25.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 1.8× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 25.1% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 14.0%, 1.8× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.2% | 22.9% | 29.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 29.8% | 21.0% | 38.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.3% | 18.1% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.2% | 25.1% | 34.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More work & labour data for Uruguay
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.72 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0269 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,567 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 95.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,144 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,102 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 2,246 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uruguay?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uruguay was 25.1% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 38.1% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.1% in 2011.
- How does Uruguay rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Uruguay ranks 29th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.