Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in France
France: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 19.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in France, 1983–2025
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 France is 19.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and down 22.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in France peaked at 28.9% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 17.2%, in 2003.
France ranks 41st of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 19.8% | — |
| 1984 | 24.6% | +24.1% |
| 1985 | 25.7% | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 23.9% | -7.1% |
| 1987 | 23.4% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 22.1% | -5.5% |
| 1989 | 19.5% | -11.8% |
| 1990 | 19.8% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 19.7% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 21.7% | +9.9% |
| 1993 | 25.5% | +17.7% |
| 1994 | 28.8% | +12.7% |
| 1995 | 27.1% | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 27.6% | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 28.9% | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 26.2% | -9.6% |
| 1999 | 26.3% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 20.6% | -21.6% |
| 2001 | 18.0% | -12.7% |
| 2002 | 18.9% | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 17.2% | -8.9% |
| 2004 | 19.8% | +14.5% |
| 2005 | 21.3% | +7.8% |
| 2006 | 22.5% | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 19.7% | -12.6% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 24.1% | +25.1% |
| 2010 | 23.7% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 23.1% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 25.1% | +8.4% |
| 2013 | 24.6% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 25.1% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 25.6% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 25.2% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 22.8% | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 21.2% | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 20.1% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 20.6% | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 19.5% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 18.1% | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 17.6% | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 19.3% | +9.7% |
| 2025 | 19.7% | +1.9% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 19.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 1.4× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- France's 19.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.2%, 1.3× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.7% | 19.5% | 25.7% | 7 |
| 1990s | 25.2% | 19.7% | 28.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.2% | 17.2% | 24.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.6% | 20.1% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 17.6% | 20.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
- 38 Italy 20.6% compare
- 39 Iran, Islamic Republic of 20.2% compare
- 40 Costa Rica 20.1% compare
- 42 Portugal 19.5% compare
- 43 Panama 19.5% compare
- 44 Brunei Darussalam 19.4% compare
More work & labour data for France
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0507 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0063 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.3323 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 62,374 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 8,235 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 35,191 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 33,294 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 68,485 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in France?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in France was 19.7% 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 28.9% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.2% in 2003.
- How does France rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- France ranks 41st out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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.