Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Latin America & Caribbean

Youth unemployment in Latin America & Caribbean in 2025 — 12.19%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.76 pp.

2025 12.19% −0.66 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 20.65%2020
Period minimum 11.04%1993

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Latin America & Caribbean, 1991–20251012.51517.52022.519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 11.43%1992: 11.4%1993: 11.04%1994: 12.12%1995: 14.35%1996: 15.02%1997: 14.89%1998: 15.62%1999: 16.95%2000: 17.22%2001: 16.61%2002: 17.62%2003: 17.56%2004: 17.08%2005: 16.39%2006: 15.38%2007: 14.67%2008: 14.28%2009: 15.94%2010: 15.01%2011: 14.43%2012: 13.75%2013: 13.94%2014: 13.77%2015: 14.72%2016: 16.96%2017: 17.39%2018: 17.35%2019: 17.44%2020: 20.65%2021: 18.52%2022: 14.77%2023: 13.42%2024: 12.85%2025: 12.19%
Change over the period: +0.76 pp Annual average: 0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Latin America & Caribbean

Latin America & Caribbean 12.19%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Latin America & Caribbean, by year Latin America & Caribbean All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 12.19 −0.66 pp
2024 12.85 −0.57 pp
2023 13.42 −1.35 pp
2022 14.77 −3.75 pp
2021 18.52 −2.13 pp
2020 20.65 +3.21 pp
2019 17.44 +0.09 pp
2018 17.35 −0.04 pp
2017 17.39 +0.43 pp
2016 16.96 +2.24 pp
2015 14.72 +0.94 pp
2014 13.77 −0.17 pp
2013 13.94 +0.2 pp
2012 13.75 −0.68 pp
2011 14.43 −0.58 pp
2010 15.01 −0.92 pp
2009 15.94 +1.66 pp
2008 14.28 −0.39 pp
2007 14.67 −0.71 pp
2006 15.38 −1.01 pp
2005 16.39 −0.69 pp
2004 17.08 −0.49 pp
2003 17.56 −0.05 pp
2002 17.62 +1.01 pp
2001 16.61 −0.61 pp
2000 17.22 +0.27 pp
1999 16.95 +1.32 pp
1998 15.62 +0.73 pp
1997 14.89 −0.13 pp
1996 15.02 +0.67 pp
1995 14.35 +2.24 pp
1994 12.12 +1.08 pp
1993 11.04 −0.36 pp
1992 11.4 −0.03 pp
1991 11.43 —

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.