Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in El Salvador

El Salvador: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 6.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
6.5%
Change on year
down 9.1%
World rank
132nd
of 160 countries
All-time high
14.0%
in 2009
All-time low
6.5%
in 2024
Years of data
25
1996–2024

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in El Salvador, 1996–2024

0510151996201020241996: 13.11997: 13.31998: 12.51999: 122002: 10.52003: 10.32004: 10.32006: 12.42007: 11.42009: 142010: 10.32011: 8.62012: 8.62013: 8.72014: 9.92015: 8.92016: 9.82017: 10.12018: 9.62019: 102020: 11.22021: 102022: 7.72023: 7.22024: 6.5

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 El Salvador is 6.5%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.1% on the previous year and down 34.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in El Salvador peaked at 14.0% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 6.5%, in 2024.

El Salvador ranks 132nd of 160 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in El Salvador, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in El Salvador, 1996 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1996 13.1%
1997 13.3% +1.6%
1998 12.5% -6.2%
1999 12.0% -3.9%
2002 10.5% -12.3%
2003 10.3% -2.2%
2004 10.3% -0.1%
2006 12.4% +20.3%
2007 11.4% -7.6%
2009 14.0% +22.1%
2010 10.3% -26.5%
2011 8.6% -16.0%
2012 8.6% -0.1%
2013 8.7% +1.0%
2014 9.9% +13.7%
2015 8.9% -9.8%
2016 9.8% +9.8%
2017 10.1% +2.7%
2018 9.6% -4.6%
2019 10.0% +3.6%
2020 11.2% +13.0%
2021 10.0% -11.2%
2022 7.7% -22.9%
2023 7.2% -6.8%
2024 6.5% -9.1%

El Salvador compared with similar countries

  • El Salvador's 6.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.5%, 42% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
  • El Salvador's 6.5% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 15.1%, 43% of the median. (30 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 12.7% 12.0% 13.3% 4
2000s 11.5% 10.3% 14.0% 6
2010s 9.4% 8.6% 10.3% 10
2020s 8.5% 6.5% 11.2% 5

Countries ranked near El Salvador

  1. 129 Isle of Man 7.2% compare
  2. 130 Germany 7.1% compare
  3. 131 Philippines 6.9% compare
  4. 133 Cameroon 6.4% compare
  5. 134 Vietnam 6.4% compare
  6. 135 South Korea 5.7% compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More work & labour data for El Salvador

All data for El Salvador →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in El Salvador?
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in El Salvador was 6.5% in 2024, 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 El Salvador?
The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2009.
What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in El Salvador?
The lowest recorded value was 6.5% in 2024.
How does El Salvador rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
El Salvador ranks 132nd out of 160 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in El Salvador?
Over the last ten years it is down 34.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this El Salvador 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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Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in El Salvador. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-youth-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-ages-15-24-national-estimate/el-salvador/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
189 places, 4,166 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.