Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Central America

Youth unemployment in Central America in 2025 — 6.81%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.43 pp.

2025 6.81% −0.01 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 10.8%1995
Period minimum 5.42%1999

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Central America, 1991–2025468101219911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 6.38%1992: 6.22%1993: 6.39%1994: 7.56%1995: 10.8%1996: 9.4%1997: 7.89%1998: 7.19%1999: 5.42%2000: 6.05%2001: 5.99%2002: 6.79%2003: 7.79%2004: 8.66%2005: 7.61%2006: 7.45%2007: 7.37%2008: 7.77%2009: 10.03%2010: 9.69%2011: 9.69%2012: 9.2%2013: 9.48%2014: 9.77%2015: 8.96%2016: 8.34%2017: 7.63%2018: 7.84%2019: 8.4%2020: 10.31%2021: 9.24%2022: 8.09%2023: 6.95%2024: 6.82%2025: 6.81%
Change over the period: +0.43 pp Annual average: 0.01 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Central America 6.81%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Central America, by year Central America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 6.81 −0.01 pp
2024 6.82 −0.13 pp
2023 6.95 −1.14 pp
2022 8.09 −1.15 pp
2021 9.24 −1.08 pp
2020 10.31 +1.91 pp
2019 8.4 +0.56 pp
2018 7.84 +0.21 pp
2017 7.63 −0.71 pp
2016 8.34 −0.62 pp
2015 8.96 −0.8 pp
2014 9.77 +0.29 pp
2013 9.48 +0.28 pp
2012 9.2 −0.49 pp
2011 9.69 +0 pp
2010 9.69 −0.34 pp
2009 10.03 +2.27 pp
2008 7.77 +0.4 pp
2007 7.37 −0.08 pp
2006 7.45 −0.16 pp
2005 7.61 −1.05 pp
2004 8.66 +0.87 pp
2003 7.79 +1 pp
2002 6.79 +0.81 pp
2001 5.99 −0.07 pp
2000 6.05 +0.64 pp
1999 5.42 −1.77 pp
1998 7.19 −0.7 pp
1997 7.89 −1.51 pp
1996 9.4 −1.4 pp
1995 10.8 +3.24 pp
1994 7.56 +1.17 pp
1993 6.39 +0.17 pp
1992 6.22 −0.16 pp
1991 6.38 —

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.