Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Philippines

Philippines: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 6.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
6.9%
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
131st
of 160 countries
All-time high
21.3%
in 1999
All-time low
6.7%
in 2018
Years of data
36
1985–2023

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Philippines, 1985–2023

51015201985200420231985: 12.11987: 15.91988: 151989: 171990: 15.41991: 17.61992: 17.21993: 17.31994: 171995: 16.11996: 14.51997: 15.71998: 18.91999: 21.32001: 9.72003: 9.32004: 9.42005: 9.62006: 10.22007: 8.92008: 10.12009: 10.42010: 9.92011: 9.62012: 9.52013: 9.22014: 9.52015: 8.52016: 7.72017: 7.52018: 6.72019: 6.82020: 72021: 8.52022: 6.92023: 6.9

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 Philippines is 6.9%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 25.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Philippines peaked at 21.3% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 2018.

Philippines ranks 131st of 160 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Philippines, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Philippines, 1985 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1985 12.1%
1987 15.9% +31.3%
1988 15.0% -5.4%
1989 17.0% +13.3%
1990 15.4% -9.7%
1991 17.6% +14.4%
1992 17.2% -2.3%
1993 17.3% +0.4%
1994 17.0% -1.5%
1995 16.1% -5.1%
1996 14.5% -10.3%
1997 15.7% +8.5%
1998 18.9% +20.4%
1999 21.3% +12.7%
2001 9.7% -54.3%
2003 9.3% -5.0%
2004 9.4% +1.4%
2005 9.6% +1.8%
2006 10.2% +7.1%
2007 8.9% -12.7%
2008 10.1% +12.6%
2009 10.4% +3.0%
2010 9.9% -4.1%
2011 9.6% -3.1%
2012 9.5% -1.7%
2013 9.2% -2.6%
2014 9.5% +2.8%
2015 8.5% -10.7%
2016 7.7% -9.1%
2017 7.5% -3.1%
2018 6.7% -10.6%
2019 6.8% +1.5%
2020 7.0% +3.9%
2021 8.5% +20.7%
2022 6.9% -19.1%
2023 6.9% +0.6%

Philippines compared with similar countries

  • Philippines's 6.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.5%, 45% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
  • Philippines's 6.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.0%, 86% of the median. (25 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Philippines changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2001 -54.3% 21.3% 9.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 15.0% 12.1% 17.0% 4
1990s 17.1% 14.5% 21.3% 10
2000s 9.7% 8.9% 10.4% 8
2010s 8.5% 6.7% 9.9% 10
2020s 7.3% 6.9% 8.5% 4

Countries ranked near Philippines

  1. 128 Singapore 7.2% compare
  2. 129 Isle of Man 7.2% compare
  3. 130 Germany 7.1% compare
  4. 132 El Salvador 6.5% compare
  5. 133 Cameroon 6.4% compare
  6. 134 Viet Nam 6.4% compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More work & labour data for Philippines

All data for Philippines →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Philippines?
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Philippines was 6.9% in 2023, 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 Philippines?
The highest recorded value was 21.3% in 1999.
What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Philippines?
The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 2018.
How does Philippines rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
Philippines ranks 131st out of 160 countries with data for 2023.
Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Philippines?
Over the last ten years it is down 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Philippines 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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Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Philippines. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-youth-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-ages-15-24-national-estimate/philippines/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
189 places, 4,166 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.