Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Middle East & North Africa

Youth unemployment in Middle East & North Africa in 2025 — 18.65%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.74 pp.

2025 18.65% +0.12 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 21.11%2020
Period minimum 15.27%2009

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Middle East & North Africa, 1991–2025141618202219911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 16.91%1992: 16.95%1993: 17.98%1994: 17.99%1995: 18.23%1996: 16.69%1997: 16.29%1998: 16.45%1999: 16.47%2000: 17.58%2001: 18.02%2002: 17.94%2003: 17.74%2004: 16.43%2005: 16.98%2006: 16.42%2007: 15.44%2008: 15.54%2009: 15.27%2010: 15.81%2011: 16.49%2012: 19.68%2013: 18.76%2014: 18.08%2015: 20.12%2016: 19.76%2017: 20.73%2018: 20.19%2019: 19.79%2020: 21.11%2021: 20.59%2022: 18.9%2023: 18.5%2024: 18.53%2025: 18.65%
Change over the period: +1.74 pp Annual average: 0.05 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Middle East & North Africa

Middle East & North Africa 18.65%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Middle East & North Africa, by year Middle East & North Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 18.65 +0.12 pp
2024 18.53 +0.03 pp
2023 18.5 −0.4 pp
2022 18.9 −1.68 pp
2021 20.59 −0.53 pp
2020 21.11 +1.33 pp
2019 19.79 −0.4 pp
2018 20.19 −0.54 pp
2017 20.73 +0.97 pp
2016 19.76 −0.36 pp
2015 20.12 +2.04 pp
2014 18.08 −0.68 pp
2013 18.76 −0.92 pp
2012 19.68 +3.19 pp
2011 16.49 +0.68 pp
2010 15.81 +0.54 pp
2009 15.27 −0.28 pp
2008 15.54 +0.1 pp
2007 15.44 −0.97 pp
2006 16.42 −0.57 pp
2005 16.98 +0.56 pp
2004 16.43 −1.32 pp
2003 17.74 −0.2 pp
2002 17.94 −0.08 pp
2001 18.02 +0.44 pp
2000 17.58 +1.11 pp
1999 16.47 +0.02 pp
1998 16.45 +0.16 pp
1997 16.29 −0.39 pp
1996 16.69 −1.55 pp
1995 18.23 +0.25 pp
1994 17.99 +0.01 pp
1993 17.98 +1.03 pp
1992 16.95 +0.04 pp
1991 16.91

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.