Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Low-income countries

Youth unemployment in low-income countries in 2025 — 8.88%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.01 pp.

2025 8.88% −0.01 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 10.48%2020
Period minimum 7.87%1991

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Low-income countries, 1991–2025789101119911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 7.87%1992: 7.96%1993: 7.99%1994: 8.01%1995: 7.88%1996: 7.93%1997: 7.97%1998: 8.14%1999: 8.31%2000: 8.49%2001: 8.58%2002: 8.55%2003: 8.51%2004: 8.32%2005: 8.15%2006: 8.24%2007: 8.39%2008: 8.54%2009: 8.35%2010: 8.78%2011: 9%2012: 9.29%2013: 8.92%2014: 8.89%2015: 9.08%2016: 9.26%2017: 9.42%2018: 9.27%2019: 9.23%2020: 10.48%2021: 10.16%2022: 9.3%2023: 9.09%2024: 8.89%2025: 8.88%
Change over the period: +1.01 pp Annual average: 0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Low-income countries

Low-income countries 8.88%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 8.88 −0.01 pp
2024 8.89 −0.2 pp
2023 9.09 −0.22 pp
2022 9.3 −0.86 pp
2021 10.16 −0.32 pp
2020 10.48 +1.25 pp
2019 9.23 −0.04 pp
2018 9.27 −0.15 pp
2017 9.42 +0.16 pp
2016 9.26 +0.18 pp
2015 9.08 +0.19 pp
2014 8.89 −0.03 pp
2013 8.92 −0.37 pp
2012 9.29 +0.29 pp
2011 9 +0.22 pp
2010 8.78 +0.43 pp
2009 8.35 −0.19 pp
2008 8.54 +0.15 pp
2007 8.39 +0.15 pp
2006 8.24 +0.1 pp
2005 8.15 −0.17 pp
2004 8.32 −0.19 pp
2003 8.51 −0.04 pp
2002 8.55 −0.03 pp
2001 8.58 +0.08 pp
2000 8.49 +0.18 pp
1999 8.31 +0.17 pp
1998 8.14 +0.17 pp
1997 7.97 +0.04 pp
1996 7.93 +0.05 pp
1995 7.88 −0.13 pp
1994 8.01 +0.02 pp
1993 7.99 +0.03 pp
1992 7.96 +0.09 pp
1991 7.87 —

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.