Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Latin America & Caribbean

Youth unemployment in Latin America & Caribbean in 2025 — 12.19%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.76 pp.

2025 12.19% −0.66 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 20.65%2020
Period minimum 11.04%1993

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Latin America & Caribbean, 1991–20251012.51517.52022.519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 11.43%1992: 11.4%1993: 11.04%1994: 12.12%1995: 14.35%1996: 15.02%1997: 14.89%1998: 15.62%1999: 16.95%2000: 17.22%2001: 16.61%2002: 17.62%2003: 17.56%2004: 17.08%2005: 16.39%2006: 15.38%2007: 14.67%2008: 14.28%2009: 15.94%2010: 15.01%2011: 14.43%2012: 13.75%2013: 13.94%2014: 13.77%2015: 14.72%2016: 16.96%2017: 17.39%2018: 17.35%2019: 17.44%2020: 20.65%2021: 18.52%2022: 14.77%2023: 13.42%2024: 12.85%2025: 12.19%
Change over the period: +0.76 pp Annual average: 0.02 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Latin America & Caribbean

Latin America & Caribbean 12.19%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Latin America & Caribbean, by year Latin America & Caribbean All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 12.19 −0.66 pp
2024 12.85 −0.57 pp
2023 13.42 −1.35 pp
2022 14.77 −3.75 pp
2021 18.52 −2.13 pp
2020 20.65 +3.21 pp
2019 17.44 +0.09 pp
2018 17.35 −0.04 pp
2017 17.39 +0.43 pp
2016 16.96 +2.24 pp
2015 14.72 +0.94 pp
2014 13.77 −0.17 pp
2013 13.94 +0.2 pp
2012 13.75 −0.68 pp
2011 14.43 −0.58 pp
2010 15.01 −0.92 pp
2009 15.94 +1.66 pp
2008 14.28 −0.39 pp
2007 14.67 −0.71 pp
2006 15.38 −1.01 pp
2005 16.39 −0.69 pp
2004 17.08 −0.49 pp
2003 17.56 −0.05 pp
2002 17.62 +1.01 pp
2001 16.61 −0.61 pp
2000 17.22 +0.27 pp
1999 16.95 +1.32 pp
1998 15.62 +0.73 pp
1997 14.89 −0.13 pp
1996 15.02 +0.67 pp
1995 14.35 +2.24 pp
1994 12.12 +1.08 pp
1993 11.04 −0.36 pp
1992 11.4 −0.03 pp
1991 11.43

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.