Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Iraq

Youth unemployment in Iraq in 2025 — 32.01%. Ranked 165 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 16.3 pp.

2025 32.01% +0.29 pp vs 2024
World rank 165of 182
Period maximum 35.65%2021
Period minimum 15.21%1994

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Iraq, 1991–20251020304019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 15.71%1992: 15.31%1993: 15.37%1994: 15.21%1995: 15.58%1996: 15.77%1997: 15.47%1998: 15.29%1999: 15.29%2000: 15.51%2001: 15.96%2002: 16.64%2003: 17.27%2004: 17.02%2005: 16.91%2006: 16.76%2007: 17.21%2008: 16.91%2009: 16.82%2010: 16.58%2011: 16.45%2012: 16.09%2013: 17.91%2014: 19.91%2015: 21.39%2016: 22.45%2017: 25.28%2018: 27.34%2019: 29.75%2020: 34.45%2021: 35.65%2022: 31.79%2023: 31.51%2024: 31.73%2025: 32.01%
Change over the period: +16.3 pp Annual average: 0.48 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Iraq 32.01%
World 13.41%
Western Asia computed 18.31%
Youth unemployment — Iraq, by year Iraq All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 32.01 +0.29 pp
2024 31.73 +0.21 pp
2023 31.51 −0.28 pp
2022 31.79 −3.86 pp
2021 35.65 +1.2 pp
2020 34.45 +4.7 pp
2019 29.75 +2.41 pp
2018 27.34 +2.06 pp
2017 25.28 +2.83 pp
2016 22.45 +1.06 pp
2015 21.39 +1.48 pp
2014 19.91 +2 pp
2013 17.91 +1.82 pp
2012 16.09 −0.36 pp
2011 16.45 −0.13 pp
2010 16.58 −0.24 pp
2009 16.82 −0.1 pp
2008 16.91 −0.29 pp
2007 17.21 +0.45 pp
2006 16.76 −0.15 pp
2005 16.91 −0.11 pp
2004 17.02 −0.25 pp
2003 17.27 +0.63 pp
2002 16.64 +0.69 pp
2001 15.96 +0.45 pp
2000 15.51 +0.22 pp
1999 15.29 −0 pp
1998 15.29 −0.18 pp
1997 15.47 −0.3 pp
1996 15.77 +0.19 pp
1995 15.58 +0.37 pp
1994 15.21 −0.16 pp
1993 15.37 +0.06 pp
1992 15.31 −0.4 pp
1991 15.71

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.