Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Western Asia

Youth unemployment in Western Asia in 2025 — 18.31%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 3.61 pp.

2025 18.31% −0.27 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 25.74%2020
Period minimum 14.7%1991

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Western Asia, 1991–2025101520253019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 14.7%1992: 15.44%1993: 16.48%1994: 16.09%1995: 15.75%1996: 15.28%1997: 15.74%1998: 15.9%1999: 16.26%2000: 15.92%2001: 17.57%2002: 19.11%2003: 19.39%2004: 19.44%2005: 18.99%2006: 18.66%2007: 18.69%2008: 19.46%2009: 20.97%2010: 20.1%2011: 19.13%2012: 19.53%2013: 20.45%2014: 20.45%2015: 20.98%2016: 20.89%2017: 22.39%2018: 22%2019: 23.23%2020: 25.74%2021: 23.25%2022: 20.86%2023: 19.23%2024: 18.58%2025: 18.31%
Change over the period: +3.61 pp Annual average: 0.11 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Western Asia 18.31%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Western Asia, by year Western Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 18.31 −0.27 pp
2024 18.58 −0.65 pp
2023 19.23 −1.63 pp
2022 20.86 −2.39 pp
2021 23.25 −2.49 pp
2020 25.74 +2.51 pp
2019 23.23 +1.23 pp
2018 22 −0.39 pp
2017 22.39 +1.5 pp
2016 20.89 −0.09 pp
2015 20.98 +0.54 pp
2014 20.45 −0 pp
2013 20.45 +0.93 pp
2012 19.53 +0.39 pp
2011 19.13 −0.97 pp
2010 20.1 −0.87 pp
2009 20.97 +1.51 pp
2008 19.46 +0.77 pp
2007 18.69 +0.03 pp
2006 18.66 −0.34 pp
2005 18.99 −0.45 pp
2004 19.44 +0.05 pp
2003 19.39 +0.28 pp
2002 19.11 +1.54 pp
2001 17.57 +1.65 pp
2000 15.92 −0.35 pp
1999 16.26 +0.37 pp
1998 15.9 +0.16 pp
1997 15.74 +0.45 pp
1996 15.28 −0.47 pp
1995 15.75 −0.33 pp
1994 16.09 −0.39 pp
1993 16.48 +1.04 pp
1992 15.44 +0.74 pp
1991 14.7 —

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.