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Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Lower-middle-income countries

Youth unemployment in lower-middle-income countries in 2025 — 12.83%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 1.66 pp.

2025 12.83% +0.19 pp vs 2024
World rank —
Period maximum 18.09%2017
Period minimum 12.5%2023

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Lower-middle-income countries, 1991–2025121416182019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 14.49%1992: 14.5%1993: 14.8%1994: 14.77%1995: 14.94%1996: 14.87%1997: 15.08%1998: 15.22%1999: 15.31%2000: 15.44%2001: 15.53%2002: 15.47%2003: 15.37%2004: 15.34%2005: 15.6%2006: 15.56%2007: 15.45%2008: 15.74%2009: 16.1%2010: 16.13%2011: 16.4%2012: 17.07%2013: 17.08%2014: 17.23%2015: 17.69%2016: 17.85%2017: 18.09%2018: 18%2019: 16.57%2020: 17.94%2021: 16.11%2022: 13.8%2023: 12.5%2024: 12.64%2025: 12.83%
Change over the period: −1.66 pp Annual average: -0.05 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Lower-middle-income countries 12.83%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Lower-middle-income countries, by year Lower-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 12.83 +0.19 pp
2024 12.64 +0.14 pp
2023 12.5 −1.3 pp
2022 13.8 −2.31 pp
2021 16.11 −1.82 pp
2020 17.94 +1.36 pp
2019 16.57 −1.42 pp
2018 18 −0.09 pp
2017 18.09 +0.23 pp
2016 17.85 +0.16 pp
2015 17.69 +0.46 pp
2014 17.23 +0.16 pp
2013 17.08 +0.01 pp
2012 17.07 +0.67 pp
2011 16.4 +0.27 pp
2010 16.13 +0.02 pp
2009 16.1 +0.37 pp
2008 15.74 +0.28 pp
2007 15.45 −0.11 pp
2006 15.56 −0.04 pp
2005 15.6 +0.25 pp
2004 15.34 −0.03 pp
2003 15.37 −0.1 pp
2002 15.47 −0.06 pp
2001 15.53 +0.09 pp
2000 15.44 +0.13 pp
1999 15.31 +0.08 pp
1998 15.22 +0.14 pp
1997 15.08 +0.21 pp
1996 14.87 −0.08 pp
1995 14.94 +0.17 pp
1994 14.77 −0.02 pp
1993 14.8 +0.3 pp
1992 14.5 +0.01 pp
1991 14.49 —

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.

Other indicators for lower-middle-income countries

Labor Unemployment rate

The share of the labor force that is looking for work and available to start.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Education Tertiary education enrollment

How many university students there are relative to the population of the corresponding age.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

The share of the population aged 15 and over that actually works.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Labor Female unemployment

The unemployment rate of the female part of the labor force.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Labor Labor force

The number of people employed or actively looking for work — the economically active population.

Lower-middle-income countries by year
All indicators for lower-middle-income countries