Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in World
World: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 13.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in World, 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 World stood at 13.4%.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and down 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in World peaked at 17.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 1991.
World ranks 23rd of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.5% | — |
| 1992 | 11.8% | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 12.4% | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 13.4% | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 13.6% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 13.7% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 14.1% | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 14.4% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 14.3% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 14.5% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 14.9% | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 15.0% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 14.8% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 14.9% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 14.5% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 14.2% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 14.3% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 15.3% | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 15.2% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 15.3% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 15.7% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 15.7% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 15.6% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 16.0% | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 16.0% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 16.1% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 15.3% | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 17.1% | +12.1% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | -8.4% |
| 2022 | 14.1% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 13.4% | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 13.3% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 13.4% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.1% | 11.5% | 14.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 14.7% | 14.2% | 15.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.7% | 15.2% | 16.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.5% | 13.3% | 17.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near World
- 20 Georgia 30.3% compare
- 21 Algeria 29.4% compare
- 22 North Macedonia 28.8% compare
- 23 Cape Verde 28.4% compare
- 24 Bosnia and Herzegovina 28.2% compare
- 25 Angola 27.2% compare
- 26 Armenia 26.2% compare
More work & labour data for World
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1226 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1316 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1143 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.688 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6.68 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 3.09 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5.10 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5.08 million 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 10.18 million 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in World?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in World was 13.4% 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 17.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 1991.
- How does World rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- World ranks 23rd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this World 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.