Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national was 11.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latin America & Caribbean, 1996–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Latin America & Caribbean recorded 11.5% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is down 7.4% on the previous year and down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 21.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 2025.
Latin America & Caribbean ranks 26th of 30 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 14.0% | — |
| 1997 | 13.3% | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 14.8% | +11.6% |
| 1999 | 14.9% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 15.9% | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 16.8% | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 17.0% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 16.8% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 14.5% | -13.3% |
| 2007 | 14.3% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 14.2% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 15.6% | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 14.2% | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 13.3% | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 13.2% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 14.0% | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 16.4% | +17.3% |
| 2017 | 17.2% | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 17.4% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 17.5% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 21.2% | +20.7% |
| 2021 | 18.6% | -12.4% |
| 2022 | 14.6% | -21.3% |
| 2023 | 13.1% | -10.1% |
| 2024 | 12.4% | -5.3% |
| 2025 | 11.5% | -7.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.2% | 13.3% | 14.9% | 4 |
| 2000s | 15.6% | 14.2% | 17.0% | 8 |
| 2010s | 15.2% | 13.2% | 17.5% | 9 |
| 2020s | 15.2% | 11.5% | 21.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
More work & labour data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 68.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 69.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 39.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 74.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 55.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 62.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 47.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 57.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 80.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Latin America & Caribbean was 11.5% 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 Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 21.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 2025.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 26th out of 30 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean 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.