Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Upper-middle-income countries

Youth unemployment in upper-middle-income countries in 2025 — 15.54%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 8.42 pp.

2025 15.54% +0.21 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 16.01%2020
Period minimum 7.11%1991

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Upper-middle-income countries, 1991–202557.51012.51517.519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 7.11%1992: 7.37%1993: 7.95%1994: 8.96%1995: 9.75%1996: 10.16%1997: 10.31%1998: 10.92%1999: 11.52%2000: 11.55%2001: 12.21%2002: 13.1%2003: 13.45%2004: 13.36%2005: 13.51%2006: 12.97%2007: 12.65%2008: 12.62%2009: 13.31%2010: 12.72%2011: 12.7%2012: 12.5%2013: 12.63%2014: 12.78%2015: 13.34%2016: 13.78%2017: 13.77%2018: 13.52%2019: 14.05%2020: 16.01%2021: 15.45%2022: 15.77%2023: 15.76%2024: 15.33%2025: 15.54%
Change over the period: +8.42 pp Annual average: 0.25 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Upper-middle-income countries

Upper-middle-income countries 15.54%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Upper-middle-income countries, by year Upper-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 15.54 +0.21 pp
2024 15.33 −0.43 pp
2023 15.76 −0.01 pp
2022 15.77 +0.32 pp
2021 15.45 −0.56 pp
2020 16.01 +1.96 pp
2019 14.05 +0.53 pp
2018 13.52 −0.25 pp
2017 13.77 −0.01 pp
2016 13.78 +0.44 pp
2015 13.34 +0.56 pp
2014 12.78 +0.15 pp
2013 12.63 +0.13 pp
2012 12.5 −0.2 pp
2011 12.7 −0.02 pp
2010 12.72 −0.59 pp
2009 13.31 +0.69 pp
2008 12.62 −0.03 pp
2007 12.65 −0.33 pp
2006 12.97 −0.53 pp
2005 13.51 +0.15 pp
2004 13.36 −0.1 pp
2003 13.45 +0.35 pp
2002 13.1 +0.9 pp
2001 12.21 +0.65 pp
2000 11.55 +0.04 pp
1999 11.52 +0.6 pp
1998 10.92 +0.61 pp
1997 10.31 +0.15 pp
1996 10.16 +0.41 pp
1995 9.75 +0.79 pp
1994 8.96 +1.01 pp
1993 7.95 +0.58 pp
1992 7.37 +0.26 pp
1991 7.11 —

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.