Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Cambodia
Cambodia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national was 8.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cambodia, 1996–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cambodia is 8.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1,055.8% on the previous year and up 1,065.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cambodia peaked at 12.2% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2017.
That places Cambodia 119th out of 160 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Cambodia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1.4% | — |
| 1997 | 1.0% | -32.1% |
| 1998 | 12.2% | +1176.4% |
| 2000 | 5.3% | -56.1% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | -32.8% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | -59.3% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | +41.8% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | -35.3% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | -40.0% |
| 2010 | 1.0% | +20.4% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | -38.1% |
| 2012 | 1.6% | +163.9% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | -52.3% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | +38.6% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | -30.0% |
| 2016 | 1.1% | +52.5% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | -65.7% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | +332.6% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | -71.3% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | +75.0% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | -11.5% |
| 2025 | 8.5% | +1055.8% |
Cambodia compared with similar countries
- Cambodia's 8.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.5%, 1.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Cambodia's 8.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.5%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Cambodia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +1176.4% | 1.0% | 12.2% |
| 2025 | +1055.8% | 0.7% | 8.5% |
| 2019 | +332.6% | 0.4% | 1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.8% | 1.0% | 12.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 0.8% | 5.3% | 6 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.4% | 1.7% | 9 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 0.5% | 8.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cambodia
More work & labour data for Cambodia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.2557 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.2408 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.2704 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.5618 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.17 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 9,062 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,957 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 11,469 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 11,270 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 22,739 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cambodia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cambodia was 8.5% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Cambodia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.2% in 1998.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Cambodia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2017.
- How does Cambodia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Cambodia ranks 119th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Cambodia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,065.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cambodia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.