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

Puerto Rico: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 34.3% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
34.3%
World rank
11th
of 160 countries
All-time high
47.3%
in 1983
All-time low
20.5%
in 2000
Years of data
34
1976–2020

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico, 1976–2020

010203040501976199820201976: 37.21977: 37.91978: 35.71979: 31.31981: 36.11982: 38.71983: 47.31984: 40.61985: 41.91986: 42.71987: 411988: 351990: 31.31991: 34.11992: 34.11993: 30.51995: 26.41996: 27.81997: 27.11998: 24.91999: 22.72000: 20.52002: 23.32003: 23.22004: 21.22005: 23.32006: 22.32007: 22.22008: 24.52010: 30.22011: 29.92012: 27.32015: 252020: 34.3

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 Puerto Rico is 34.3%, measured in 2020.

The figure is up 13.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico peaked at 47.3% in 1983 and was at its lowest, 20.5%, in 2000.

That places Puerto Rico 11th out of 160 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Puerto Rico, 1976 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1976 37.2%
1977 37.9% +1.8%
1978 35.7% -5.8%
1979 31.3% -12.5%
1981 36.1% +15.6%
1982 38.7% +7.2%
1983 47.3% +22.1%
1984 40.6% -14.2%
1985 41.9% +3.1%
1986 42.7% +2.0%
1987 41.0% -3.9%
1988 35.0% -14.8%
1990 31.3% -10.4%
1991 34.1% +8.9%
1992 34.1% -0.0%
1993 30.5% -10.5%
1995 26.4% -13.4%
1996 27.8% +5.1%
1997 27.1% -2.3%
1998 24.9% -8.3%
1999 22.7% -8.8%
2000 20.5% -9.6%
2002 23.3% +13.5%
2003 23.2% -0.2%
2004 21.2% -8.6%
2005 23.3% +9.6%
2006 22.3% -3.9%
2007 22.2% -0.8%
2008 24.5% +10.7%
2010 30.2% +23.3%
2011 29.9% -1.3%
2012 27.3% -8.4%
2015 25.0% -8.6%
2020 34.3% +37.2%

Puerto Rico compared with similar countries

  • Puerto Rico's 34.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 2.5× the median. (70 countries reporting)
  • Puerto Rico's 34.3% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 15.1%, 2.3× the median. (30 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 35.5% 31.3% 37.9% 4
1980s 40.4% 35.0% 47.3% 8
1990s 28.8% 22.7% 34.1% 9
2000s 22.6% 20.5% 24.5% 8
2010s 28.1% 25.0% 30.2% 4
2020s 34.3% 34.3% 34.3% 1

Countries ranked near Puerto Rico

  1. 8 Syria 35.8% compare
  2. 9 Iraq 35.4% compare
  3. 10 New Caledonia 34.5% compare
  4. 12 Morocco 32.6% compare
  5. 13 Lesotho 31.1% compare
  6. 14 Guyana 30.7% compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More work & labour data for Puerto Rico

All data for Puerto Rico →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico?
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Puerto Rico was 34.3% in 2020, 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 Puerto Rico?
The highest recorded value was 47.3% in 1983.
What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Puerto Rico?
The lowest recorded value was 20.5% in 2000.
How does Puerto Rico rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
Puerto Rico ranks 11th out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-youth-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-ages-15-24-national-estimate/puerto-rico-us/

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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.