Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Central America

Youth unemployment in Central America in 2025 — 6.81%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.43 pp.

2025 6.81% −0.01 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 10.8%1995
Period minimum 5.42%1999

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Central America, 1991–2025468101219911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 6.38%1992: 6.22%1993: 6.39%1994: 7.56%1995: 10.8%1996: 9.4%1997: 7.89%1998: 7.19%1999: 5.42%2000: 6.05%2001: 5.99%2002: 6.79%2003: 7.79%2004: 8.66%2005: 7.61%2006: 7.45%2007: 7.37%2008: 7.77%2009: 10.03%2010: 9.69%2011: 9.69%2012: 9.2%2013: 9.48%2014: 9.77%2015: 8.96%2016: 8.34%2017: 7.63%2018: 7.84%2019: 8.4%2020: 10.31%2021: 9.24%2022: 8.09%2023: 6.95%2024: 6.82%2025: 6.81%
Change over the period: +0.43 pp Annual average: 0.01 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Central America 6.81%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Central America, by year Central America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 6.81 −0.01 pp
2024 6.82 −0.13 pp
2023 6.95 −1.14 pp
2022 8.09 −1.15 pp
2021 9.24 −1.08 pp
2020 10.31 +1.91 pp
2019 8.4 +0.56 pp
2018 7.84 +0.21 pp
2017 7.63 −0.71 pp
2016 8.34 −0.62 pp
2015 8.96 −0.8 pp
2014 9.77 +0.29 pp
2013 9.48 +0.28 pp
2012 9.2 −0.49 pp
2011 9.69 +0 pp
2010 9.69 −0.34 pp
2009 10.03 +2.27 pp
2008 7.77 +0.4 pp
2007 7.37 −0.08 pp
2006 7.45 −0.16 pp
2005 7.61 −1.05 pp
2004 8.66 +0.87 pp
2003 7.79 +1 pp
2002 6.79 +0.81 pp
2001 5.99 −0.07 pp
2000 6.05 +0.64 pp
1999 5.42 −1.77 pp
1998 7.19 −0.7 pp
1997 7.89 −1.51 pp
1996 9.4 −1.4 pp
1995 10.8 +3.24 pp
1994 7.56 +1.17 pp
1993 6.39 +0.17 pp
1992 6.22 −0.16 pp
1991 6.38

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.