Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Western Europe

Youth unemployment in Western Europe in 2025 — 11.78%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.32 pp.

2025 11.78% +0.31 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 16.7%2005
Period minimum 10.46%1991

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Western Europe, 1991–2025101214161819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 10.46%1992: 10.97%1993: 13.54%1994: 15.35%1995: 14.72%1996: 15.34%1997: 16.17%1998: 14.81%1999: 14.38%2000: 11.95%2001: 10.75%2002: 11.82%2003: 12.62%2004: 14.49%2005: 16.7%2006: 15.83%2007: 14.05%2008: 13.37%2009: 15.57%2010: 15.09%2011: 13.94%2012: 14.46%2013: 14.51%2014: 14.52%2015: 14.33%2016: 13.96%2017: 12.73%2018: 11.62%2019: 10.97%2020: 12.41%2021: 11.85%2022: 10.74%2023: 10.73%2024: 11.47%2025: 11.78%
Change over the period: +1.32 pp Annual average: 0.04 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Western Europe 11.78%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Western Europe, by year Western Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 11.78 +0.31 pp
2024 11.47 +0.74 pp
2023 10.73 −0.01 pp
2022 10.74 −1.11 pp
2021 11.85 −0.56 pp
2020 12.41 +1.44 pp
2019 10.97 −0.65 pp
2018 11.62 −1.11 pp
2017 12.73 −1.23 pp
2016 13.96 −0.37 pp
2015 14.33 −0.19 pp
2014 14.52 +0 pp
2013 14.51 +0.05 pp
2012 14.46 +0.52 pp
2011 13.94 −1.15 pp
2010 15.09 −0.48 pp
2009 15.57 +2.2 pp
2008 13.37 −0.69 pp
2007 14.05 −1.78 pp
2006 15.83 −0.87 pp
2005 16.7 +2.21 pp
2004 14.49 +1.87 pp
2003 12.62 +0.8 pp
2002 11.82 +1.07 pp
2001 10.75 −1.2 pp
2000 11.95 −2.43 pp
1999 14.38 −0.43 pp
1998 14.81 −1.36 pp
1997 16.17 +0.83 pp
1996 15.34 +0.62 pp
1995 14.72 −0.64 pp
1994 15.35 +1.82 pp
1993 13.54 +2.57 pp
1992 10.97 +0.51 pp
1991 10.46 —

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.