Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Estonia
Estonia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 20.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Estonia, 1990–2025
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 Estonia is 20.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.2% on the previous year and up 44.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Estonia peaked at 32.9% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1990.
That places Estonia 37th out of 160 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Estonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.6% | — |
| 1991 | 3.4% | +109.6% |
| 1992 | 7.4% | +116.9% |
| 1993 | 10.9% | +47.0% |
| 1994 | 11.3% | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 13.9% | +23.0% |
| 1996 | 15.8% | +13.1% |
| 1997 | 18.7% | +18.4% |
| 1998 | 14.9% | -20.4% |
| 1999 | 22.1% | +48.3% |
| 2000 | 21.1% | -4.2% |
| 2001 | 24.0% | +13.6% |
| 2002 | 20.2% | -15.7% |
| 2003 | 26.9% | +32.7% |
| 2004 | 25.7% | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 15.1% | -41.0% |
| 2006 | 12.1% | -20.0% |
| 2007 | 10.1% | -16.7% |
| 2008 | 12.0% | +19.1% |
| 2009 | 27.4% | +127.8% |
| 2010 | 32.9% | +20.2% |
| 2011 | 22.4% | -32.0% |
| 2012 | 20.9% | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 18.7% | -10.5% |
| 2014 | 15.0% | -19.9% |
| 2015 | 14.4% | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 14.1% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 12.2% | -13.8% |
| 2018 | 12.1% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 11.7% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 18.5% | +58.6% |
| 2021 | 16.7% | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 18.6% | +11.1% |
| 2023 | 17.3% | -6.8% |
| 2024 | 19.1% | +10.5% |
| 2025 | 20.7% | +8.2% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 20.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 1.5× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 20.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.2%, 1.4× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.0% | 1.6% | 22.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.5% | 10.1% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.4% | 11.7% | 32.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.5% | 16.7% | 20.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
- 34 Luxembourg 21.6% compare
- 35 Georgia 21.4% compare
- 36 Armenia 21.2% compare
- 38 Italy 20.6% compare
- 39 Iran, Islamic Republic of 20.2% compare
- 40 Costa Rica 20.1% compare
More work & labour data for Estonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1039 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 885.23 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 259.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 417.66 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 407.84 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 825.5 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Estonia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Estonia was 20.7% 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 Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.9% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1990.
- How does Estonia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Estonia ranks 37th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Estonia 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.