Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Middle East & North Africa

Youth unemployment in Middle East & North Africa in 2025 — 18.65%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.74 pp.

2025 18.65% +0.12 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 21.11%2020
Period minimum 15.27%2009

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Middle East & North Africa, 1991–2025141618202219911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 16.91%1992: 16.95%1993: 17.98%1994: 17.99%1995: 18.23%1996: 16.69%1997: 16.29%1998: 16.45%1999: 16.47%2000: 17.58%2001: 18.02%2002: 17.94%2003: 17.74%2004: 16.43%2005: 16.98%2006: 16.42%2007: 15.44%2008: 15.54%2009: 15.27%2010: 15.81%2011: 16.49%2012: 19.68%2013: 18.76%2014: 18.08%2015: 20.12%2016: 19.76%2017: 20.73%2018: 20.19%2019: 19.79%2020: 21.11%2021: 20.59%2022: 18.9%2023: 18.5%2024: 18.53%2025: 18.65%
Change over the period: +1.74 pp Annual average: 0.05 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Middle East & North Africa

Middle East & North Africa 18.65%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Middle East & North Africa, by year Middle East & North Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 18.65 +0.12 pp
2024 18.53 +0.03 pp
2023 18.5 −0.4 pp
2022 18.9 −1.68 pp
2021 20.59 −0.53 pp
2020 21.11 +1.33 pp
2019 19.79 −0.4 pp
2018 20.19 −0.54 pp
2017 20.73 +0.97 pp
2016 19.76 −0.36 pp
2015 20.12 +2.04 pp
2014 18.08 −0.68 pp
2013 18.76 −0.92 pp
2012 19.68 +3.19 pp
2011 16.49 +0.68 pp
2010 15.81 +0.54 pp
2009 15.27 −0.28 pp
2008 15.54 +0.1 pp
2007 15.44 −0.97 pp
2006 16.42 −0.57 pp
2005 16.98 +0.56 pp
2004 16.43 −1.32 pp
2003 17.74 −0.2 pp
2002 17.94 −0.08 pp
2001 18.02 +0.44 pp
2000 17.58 +1.11 pp
1999 16.47 +0.02 pp
1998 16.45 +0.16 pp
1997 16.29 −0.39 pp
1996 16.69 −1.55 pp
1995 18.23 +0.25 pp
1994 17.99 +0.01 pp
1993 17.98 +1.03 pp
1992 16.95 +0.04 pp
1991 16.91 —

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.