Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Central Europe and the Baltics
Central Europe and the Baltics: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 15.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Central Europe and the Baltics, 1995–2025
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 Central Europe and the Baltics is 15.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.5% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Central Europe and the Baltics peaked at 31.3% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 11.6%, in 2019.
That places Central Europe and the Baltics 14th out of 29 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Central Europe and the Baltics, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 23.5% | — |
| 1996 | 22.3% | -5.2% |
| 1997 | 20.3% | -8.9% |
| 1998 | 19.0% | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 23.4% | +23.1% |
| 2000 | 26.0% | +11.1% |
| 2001 | 29.6% | +14.0% |
| 2002 | 31.3% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 30.1% | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 29.6% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 27.6% | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 23.8% | -13.7% |
| 2007 | 18.6% | -21.7% |
| 2008 | 16.7% | -10.6% |
| 2009 | 21.6% | +29.4% |
| 2010 | 24.5% | +13.5% |
| 2011 | 25.6% | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 26.2% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 23.4% | -12.1% |
| 2015 | 20.7% | -11.7% |
| 2016 | 17.6% | -14.7% |
| 2017 | 14.9% | -15.3% |
| 2018 | 12.6% | -15.6% |
| 2019 | 11.6% | -7.8% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | +17.1% |
| 2021 | 14.9% | +9.2% |
| 2022 | 13.7% | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 14.2% | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 14.7% | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 15.5% | +5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.7% | 19.0% | 23.5% | 5 |
| 2000s | 25.5% | 16.7% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.4% | 11.6% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.4% | 13.6% | 15.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Central Europe and the Baltics
More work & labour data for Central Europe and the Baltics
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 50.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 64.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 25.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 32.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 29.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 74.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 68.7% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Central Europe and the Baltics was 15.5% 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 Central Europe and the Baltics?
- The highest recorded value was 31.3% in 2002.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.6% in 2019.
- How does Central Europe and the Baltics rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Central Europe and the Baltics ranks 14th out of 29 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Central Europe and the Baltics?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Central Europe and the Baltics 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.
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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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.