Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — OPEC

Youth unemployment in OPEC in 2025 — 12.07%. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 2.86 pp.

2025 12.07% +0.03 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 18.12%2020
Period minimum 12.04%2024

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — OPEC, 1991–2025121416182019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 14.93%1992: 14.84%1993: 14.96%1994: 15.33%1995: 15.97%1996: 15.37%1997: 14.99%1998: 15.3%1999: 16.33%2000: 16.68%2001: 16.48%2002: 17%2003: 16.55%2004: 15.23%2005: 15.18%2006: 14.53%2007: 14.38%2008: 14.07%2009: 14.2%2010: 15.06%2011: 14.71%2012: 15.1%2013: 14.8%2014: 15.26%2015: 15.94%2016: 16.08%2017: 17.31%2018: 17.35%2019: 17.04%2020: 18.12%2021: 16.01%2022: 13.48%2023: 12.27%2024: 12.04%2025: 12.07%
Change over the period: −2.86 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

OPEC 12.07%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — OPEC, by year OPEC All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 12.07 +0.03 pp
2024 12.04 −0.23 pp
2023 12.27 −1.21 pp
2022 13.48 −2.53 pp
2021 16.01 −2.12 pp
2020 18.12 +1.08 pp
2019 17.04 −0.3 pp
2018 17.35 +0.04 pp
2017 17.31 +1.23 pp
2016 16.08 +0.14 pp
2015 15.94 +0.68 pp
2014 15.26 +0.46 pp
2013 14.8 −0.3 pp
2012 15.1 +0.4 pp
2011 14.71 −0.35 pp
2010 15.06 +0.86 pp
2009 14.2 +0.13 pp
2008 14.07 −0.31 pp
2007 14.38 −0.14 pp
2006 14.53 −0.65 pp
2005 15.18 −0.05 pp
2004 15.23 −1.31 pp
2003 16.55 −0.45 pp
2002 17 +0.52 pp
2001 16.48 −0.21 pp
2000 16.68 +0.35 pp
1999 16.33 +1.03 pp
1998 15.3 +0.31 pp
1997 14.99 −0.38 pp
1996 15.37 −0.6 pp
1995 15.97 +0.65 pp
1994 15.33 +0.37 pp
1993 14.96 +0.12 pp
1992 14.84 −0.09 pp
1991 14.93

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.