Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Uruguay
Uruguay: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national was 24.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uruguay, 1984–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uruguay stood at 24.4%.
That represents a change of down 7.8% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uruguay peaked at 38.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 16.7%, in 1984.
Uruguay ranks 23rd of 160 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 16.7% | — |
| 1990 | 23.4% | +40.0% |
| 1991 | 24.4% | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 23.9% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 22.9% | -4.2% |
| 1994 | 24.1% | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 24.6% | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 23.0% | -6.5% |
| 1999 | 24.5% | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 29.1% | +18.5% |
| 2001 | 34.3% | +17.9% |
| 2002 | 38.0% | +10.7% |
| 2003 | 38.2% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 33.0% | -13.5% |
| 2005 | 29.2% | -11.6% |
| 2006 | 28.1% | -3.7% |
| 2007 | 25.0% | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 22.4% | -10.4% |
| 2009 | 21.1% | -6.1% |
| 2010 | 20.7% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 18.1% | -12.5% |
| 2012 | 18.5% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 19.3% | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 19.4% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 22.5% | +16.0% |
| 2016 | 23.8% | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 24.8% | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 25.9% | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 27.8% | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 33.4% | +20.1% |
| 2021 | 31.4% | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 25.2% | -19.7% |
| 2023 | 26.1% | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 26.5% | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 24.4% | -7.8% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 24.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 1.8× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 24.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 13.7%, 1.8× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 16.7% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 23.9% | 22.9% | 24.6% | 8 |
| 2000s | 29.8% | 21.1% | 38.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.1% | 18.1% | 27.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.8% | 24.4% | 33.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More work & labour data for Uruguay
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.03 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.72 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0269 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 3,567 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 95.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,144 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,102 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 2,246 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uruguay?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Uruguay was 24.4% 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 38.2% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.7% in 1984.
- How does Uruguay rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Uruguay ranks 23rd out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.