Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 29.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia, 2002–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
North Macedonia recorded 29.2% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 39.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia peaked at 65.7% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 28.7%, in 2024.
North Macedonia ranks 16th of 160 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 58.4% | — |
| 2003 | 65.7% | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 62.0% | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 60.1% | -3.1% |
| 2007 | 58.2% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 56.7% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 55.1% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 55.2% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 55.1% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 53.9% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 51.9% | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 53.4% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 47.8% | -10.4% |
| 2016 | 48.9% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 47.2% | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 45.9% | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 35.6% | -22.5% |
| 2020 | 35.8% | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 36.3% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 32.6% | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 29.7% | -9.0% |
| 2024 | 28.7% | -3.4% |
| 2025 | 29.2% | +1.7% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 29.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.5%, 1.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 29.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.2%, 1.9× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 59.5% | 55.1% | 65.7% | 7 |
| 2010s | 49.5% | 35.6% | 55.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.1% | 28.7% | 36.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More work & labour data for North Macedonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.21 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1782 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,405 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 525.79 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 422.57 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 440.42 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 863 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in North Macedonia was 29.2% 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 65.7% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.7% in 2024.
- How does North Macedonia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- North Macedonia ranks 16th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.