Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — United Arab Emirates

Youth unemployment in the United Arab Emirates in 2025 — 6.45%. Ranked 37 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 2.53 pp.

2025 6.45% +0.03 pp vs 2024
World rank 37of 182
Period maximum 13.48%2020
Period minimum 3.93%1991

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — United Arab Emirates, 1991–202505101519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 3.93%1992: 4.06%1993: 4.3%1994: 4.31%1995: 4.36%1996: 4.5%1997: 4.59%1998: 4.79%1999: 4.98%2000: 5.14%2001: 5.63%2002: 6.18%2003: 6.83%2004: 7.36%2005: 8.05%2006: 7.92%2007: 7.8%2008: 7.54%2009: 7.47%2010: 7.19%2011: 6.86%2012: 6.47%2013: 6.12%2014: 5.82%2015: 5.44%2016: 5.11%2017: 7.47%2018: 6.75%2019: 7.33%2020: 13.48%2021: 9.74%2022: 9.99%2023: 6.35%2024: 6.43%2025: 6.45%
Change over the period: +2.53 pp Annual average: 0.07 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates 6.45%
World 13.41%
Western Asia computed 18.31%
High-income countries computed 11.17%
Youth unemployment — United Arab Emirates, by year United Arab Emirates All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 6.45 +0.03 pp
2024 6.43 +0.07 pp
2023 6.35 −3.64 pp
2022 9.99 +0.26 pp
2021 9.74 −3.75 pp
2020 13.48 +6.16 pp
2019 7.33 +0.58 pp
2018 6.75 −0.73 pp
2017 7.47 +2.37 pp
2016 5.11 −0.34 pp
2015 5.44 −0.38 pp
2014 5.82 −0.29 pp
2013 6.12 −0.35 pp
2012 6.47 −0.39 pp
2011 6.86 −0.34 pp
2010 7.19 −0.28 pp
2009 7.47 −0.07 pp
2008 7.54 −0.26 pp
2007 7.8 −0.12 pp
2006 7.92 −0.13 pp
2005 8.05 +0.68 pp
2004 7.36 +0.53 pp
2003 6.83 +0.65 pp
2002 6.18 +0.56 pp
2001 5.63 +0.49 pp
2000 5.14 +0.16 pp
1999 4.98 +0.19 pp
1998 4.79 +0.2 pp
1997 4.59 +0.09 pp
1996 4.5 +0.14 pp
1995 4.36 +0.05 pp
1994 4.31 +0.02 pp
1993 4.3 +0.24 pp
1992 4.06 +0.14 pp
1991 3.93 —

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.