Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries): Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national was 12.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), 2000–2025
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 Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) is 12.5%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.3% on the previous year and down 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 21.7% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 12.5%, in 2025.
That places Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 21st out of 30 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 20.5% | — |
| 2001 | 21.7% | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 21.3% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 21.6% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 20.5% | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 19.9% | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 20.3% | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 18.6% | -8.2% |
| 2008 | 17.4% | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 20.3% | +16.6% |
| 2010 | 19.9% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 19.0% | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 18.8% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 18.9% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 19.8% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 19.2% | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 19.5% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 17.9% | -8.4% |
| 2018 | 18.1% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 18.3% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 18.7% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 15.9% | -15.4% |
| 2023 | 14.6% | -7.8% |
| 2024 | 13.1% | -10.4% |
| 2025 | 12.5% | -4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.2% | 17.4% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.0% | 17.9% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.5% | 12.5% | 18.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
More work & labour data for Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 35.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 71.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 48.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 69.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 78.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 60.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 68.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 29.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 41.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) was 12.5% 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 Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 21.7% in 2001.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.5% in 2025.
- How does Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 21st out of 30 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.