Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Afghanistan

Youth unemployment in Afghanistan in 2025 — 16.79%. Ranked 119 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 6.56 pp.

2025 16.79% −0.45 pp vs 2024
World rank 119of 182
Period maximum 17.54%2022
Period minimum 10.04%2010

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Afghanistan, 1991–2025101214161819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 10.23%1992: 10.21%1993: 10.17%1994: 10.15%1995: 10.14%1996: 10.16%1997: 10.15%1998: 10.17%1999: 10.18%2000: 10.2%2001: 10.27%2002: 10.18%2003: 10.16%2004: 10.11%2005: 10.18%2006: 10.18%2007: 10.12%2008: 10.14%2009: 10.06%2010: 10.04%2011: 10.04%2012: 10.07%2013: 10.1%2014: 10.09%2015: 12.53%2016: 14.93%2017: 17.31%2018: 16.4%2019: 15.52%2020: 16.05%2021: 16.01%2022: 17.54%2023: 17.49%2024: 17.24%2025: 16.79%
Change over the period: +6.56 pp Annual average: 0.19 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Afghanistan 16.79%
World 13.41%
South Asia 15.4%
Southern Asia computed 15.06%
Low-income countries computed 8.88%
Youth unemployment — Afghanistan, by year Afghanistan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 16.79 −0.45 pp
2024 17.24 −0.26 pp
2023 17.49 −0.05 pp
2022 17.54 +1.53 pp
2021 16.01 −0.04 pp
2020 16.05 +0.53 pp
2019 15.52 −0.88 pp
2018 16.4 −0.91 pp
2017 17.31 +2.38 pp
2016 14.93 +2.4 pp
2015 12.53 +2.44 pp
2014 10.09 −0.01 pp
2013 10.1 +0.03 pp
2012 10.07 +0.03 pp
2011 10.04 +0 pp
2010 10.04 −0.01 pp
2009 10.06 −0.08 pp
2008 10.14 +0.02 pp
2007 10.12 −0.06 pp
2006 10.18 +0.01 pp
2005 10.18 +0.06 pp
2004 10.11 −0.05 pp
2003 10.16 −0.02 pp
2002 10.18 −0.09 pp
2001 10.27 +0.07 pp
2000 10.2 +0.02 pp
1999 10.18 +0.01 pp
1998 10.17 +0.01 pp
1997 10.15 −0.01 pp
1996 10.16 +0.02 pp
1995 10.14 −0.01 pp
1994 10.15 −0.02 pp
1993 10.17 −0.04 pp
1992 10.21 −0.01 pp
1991 10.23

Southern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.