Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Norway
Norway: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 14.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Norway, 1982–2025
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 Norway is 14.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.7% on the previous year and up 41.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Norway peaked at 19.1% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 5.0%, in 1986.
Norway ranks 75th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 44 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Norway, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 7.6% | — |
| 1983 | 8.9% | +16.5% |
| 1984 | 7.6% | -13.9% |
| 1985 | 6.5% | -14.8% |
| 1986 | 5.0% | -23.3% |
| 1987 | 5.3% | +6.6% |
| 1988 | 7.9% | +49.0% |
| 1989 | 11.5% | +45.5% |
| 1990 | 11.8% | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 12.8% | +9.1% |
| 1992 | 13.9% | +8.2% |
| 1993 | 13.9% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 12.6% | -9.3% |
| 1995 | 19.1% | +51.4% |
| 1996 | 15.3% | -19.8% |
| 1997 | 14.9% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 12.9% | -14.0% |
| 1999 | 12.3% | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 11.1% | -9.7% |
| 2001 | 12.2% | +9.7% |
| 2002 | 13.0% | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 11.9% | -9.1% |
| 2004 | 12.8% | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 11.5% | -10.3% |
| 2006 | 8.7% | -24.0% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | -15.2% |
| 2008 | 7.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 9.2% | +23.7% |
| 2010 | 9.3% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 8.5% | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 8.5% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | +7.8% |
| 2014 | 7.9% | -14.0% |
| 2015 | 9.9% | +26.0% |
| 2016 | 11.2% | +12.7% |
| 2017 | 10.4% | -7.0% |
| 2018 | 9.7% | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 9.9% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 11.3% | +14.1% |
| 2021 | 12.9% | +13.6% |
| 2022 | 9.9% | -22.9% |
| 2023 | 11.0% | +10.9% |
| 2024 | 11.9% | +8.1% |
| 2025 | 14.0% | +17.7% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 14.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 1.0× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Norway's 14.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.2%, 92% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.5% | 5.0% | 11.5% | 8 |
| 1990s | 14.0% | 11.8% | 19.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.5% | 7.4% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 7.9% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.8% | 9.9% | 14.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More work & labour data for Norway
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.2322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.2413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.2229 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7506 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,138 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 663.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,690 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,724 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,414 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Norway?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Norway was 14.0% 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 19.1% in 1995.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.0% in 1986.
- How does Norway rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Norway ranks 75th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Norway 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.
Download this data
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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.