Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Iraq

Youth unemployment in Iraq in 2025 — 32.01%. Ranked 165 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 16.3 pp.

2025 32.01% +0.29 pp vs 2024
World rank 165of 182
Period maximum 35.65%2021
Period minimum 15.21%1994

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force aged 15–24

Youth unemployment — Iraq, 1991–20251020304019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 15.71%1992: 15.31%1993: 15.37%1994: 15.21%1995: 15.58%1996: 15.77%1997: 15.47%1998: 15.29%1999: 15.29%2000: 15.51%2001: 15.96%2002: 16.64%2003: 17.27%2004: 17.02%2005: 16.91%2006: 16.76%2007: 17.21%2008: 16.91%2009: 16.82%2010: 16.58%2011: 16.45%2012: 16.09%2013: 17.91%2014: 19.91%2015: 21.39%2016: 22.45%2017: 25.28%2018: 27.34%2019: 29.75%2020: 34.45%2021: 35.65%2022: 31.79%2023: 31.51%2024: 31.73%2025: 32.01%
Change over the period: +16.3 pp Annual average: 0.48 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Iraq

Iraq 32.01%
World 13.41%
Western Asia computed 18.31%
Youth unemployment — Iraq, by year Iraq All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 32.01 +0.29 pp
2024 31.73 +0.21 pp
2023 31.51 −0.28 pp
2022 31.79 −3.86 pp
2021 35.65 +1.2 pp
2020 34.45 +4.7 pp
2019 29.75 +2.41 pp
2018 27.34 +2.06 pp
2017 25.28 +2.83 pp
2016 22.45 +1.06 pp
2015 21.39 +1.48 pp
2014 19.91 +2 pp
2013 17.91 +1.82 pp
2012 16.09 −0.36 pp
2011 16.45 −0.13 pp
2010 16.58 −0.24 pp
2009 16.82 −0.1 pp
2008 16.91 −0.29 pp
2007 17.21 +0.45 pp
2006 16.76 −0.15 pp
2005 16.91 −0.11 pp
2004 17.02 −0.25 pp
2003 17.27 +0.63 pp
2002 16.64 +0.69 pp
2001 15.96 +0.45 pp
2000 15.51 +0.22 pp
1999 15.29 −0 pp
1998 15.29 −0.18 pp
1997 15.47 −0.3 pp
1996 15.77 +0.19 pp
1995 15.58 +0.37 pp
1994 15.21 −0.16 pp
1993 15.37 +0.06 pp
1992 15.31 −0.4 pp
1991 15.71 —

About the indicator

The share of the economically active population aged 15–24 that is unemployed. In almost every country youth unemployment runs two to three times above the overall rate: the young have no experience, and their first entry into the labor market puts them up against more qualified workers. A sharp gap with the overall rate points to structural problems in the transition from school to work.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.