Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income): Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 21.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), 2004–2021
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 Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) is 21.2%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.5% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) peaked at 22.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 18.2%, in 2004.
That places Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 1st out of 29 groups with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 18.2% | — |
| 2005 | 19.4% | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 21.5% | +10.5% |
| 2010 | 20.6% | -3.8% |
| 2011 | 19.4% | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 19.0% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 19.3% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 22.0% | +14.0% |
| 2015 | 20.0% | -9.3% |
| 2016 | 21.4% | +7.2% |
| 2017 | 19.2% | -10.5% |
| 2018 | 20.1% | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 22.2% | +10.3% |
| 2020 | 19.9% | -10.1% |
| 2021 | 21.2% | +6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.7% | 18.2% | 21.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 20.3% | 19.0% | 22.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.6% | 19.9% | 21.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 64.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 69.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 56.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 31.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 49.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 63.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 50.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 44.0% (2025)
All data for Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) was 21.2% in 2021, 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 Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The highest recorded value was 22.2% in 2019.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.2% in 2004.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) ranks 1st out of 29 groups with data for 2021.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 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.