Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — South America

Youth unemployment in South America in 2025 — 14.31%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.39 pp.

2025 14.31% −1.1 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 25.95%2020
Period minimum 12.54%1993

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — South America, 1991–2025101520253019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 12.92%1992: 12.98%1993: 12.54%1994: 13.78%1995: 15.99%1996: 17.59%1997: 17.93%1998: 19.27%1999: 21.98%2000: 22.17%2001: 21.17%2002: 22.23%2003: 21.65%2004: 20.56%2005: 19.9%2006: 18.45%2007: 17.32%2008: 16.66%2009: 18.25%2010: 16.93%2011: 15.98%2012: 15.15%2013: 15.21%2014: 15%2015: 16.86%2016: 20.76%2017: 21.96%2018: 21.86%2019: 21.8%2020: 25.95%2021: 23.11%2022: 17.83%2023: 16.33%2024: 15.41%2025: 14.31%
Change over the period: +1.39 pp Annual average: 0.04 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

South America 14.31%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 14.31 −1.1 pp
2024 15.41 −0.92 pp
2023 16.33 −1.49 pp
2022 17.83 −5.29 pp
2021 23.11 −2.83 pp
2020 25.95 +4.14 pp
2019 21.8 −0.06 pp
2018 21.86 −0.1 pp
2017 21.96 +1.2 pp
2016 20.76 +3.9 pp
2015 16.86 +1.86 pp
2014 15 −0.21 pp
2013 15.21 +0.07 pp
2012 15.15 −0.84 pp
2011 15.98 −0.94 pp
2010 16.93 −1.33 pp
2009 18.25 +1.59 pp
2008 16.66 −0.66 pp
2007 17.32 −1.13 pp
2006 18.45 −1.45 pp
2005 19.9 −0.66 pp
2004 20.56 −1.1 pp
2003 21.65 −0.58 pp
2002 22.23 +1.06 pp
2001 21.17 −1 pp
2000 22.17 +0.19 pp
1999 21.98 +2.71 pp
1998 19.27 +1.34 pp
1997 17.93 +0.34 pp
1996 17.59 +1.59 pp
1995 15.99 +2.22 pp
1994 13.78 +1.23 pp
1993 12.54 −0.44 pp
1992 12.98 +0.06 pp
1991 12.92

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.