Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Western Asia

Youth unemployment in Western Asia in 2025 — 18.31%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 3.61 pp.

2025 18.31% −0.27 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 25.74%2020
Period minimum 14.7%1991

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Western Asia, 1991–2025101520253019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 14.7%1992: 15.44%1993: 16.48%1994: 16.09%1995: 15.75%1996: 15.28%1997: 15.74%1998: 15.9%1999: 16.26%2000: 15.92%2001: 17.57%2002: 19.11%2003: 19.39%2004: 19.44%2005: 18.99%2006: 18.66%2007: 18.69%2008: 19.46%2009: 20.97%2010: 20.1%2011: 19.13%2012: 19.53%2013: 20.45%2014: 20.45%2015: 20.98%2016: 20.89%2017: 22.39%2018: 22%2019: 23.23%2020: 25.74%2021: 23.25%2022: 20.86%2023: 19.23%2024: 18.58%2025: 18.31%
Change over the period: +3.61 pp Annual average: 0.11 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Western Asia 18.31%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Western Asia, by year Western Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 18.31 −0.27 pp
2024 18.58 −0.65 pp
2023 19.23 −1.63 pp
2022 20.86 −2.39 pp
2021 23.25 −2.49 pp
2020 25.74 +2.51 pp
2019 23.23 +1.23 pp
2018 22 −0.39 pp
2017 22.39 +1.5 pp
2016 20.89 −0.09 pp
2015 20.98 +0.54 pp
2014 20.45 −0 pp
2013 20.45 +0.93 pp
2012 19.53 +0.39 pp
2011 19.13 −0.97 pp
2010 20.1 −0.87 pp
2009 20.97 +1.51 pp
2008 19.46 +0.77 pp
2007 18.69 +0.03 pp
2006 18.66 −0.34 pp
2005 18.99 −0.45 pp
2004 19.44 +0.05 pp
2003 19.39 +0.28 pp
2002 19.11 +1.54 pp
2001 17.57 +1.65 pp
2000 15.92 −0.35 pp
1999 16.26 +0.37 pp
1998 15.9 +0.16 pp
1997 15.74 +0.45 pp
1996 15.28 −0.47 pp
1995 15.75 −0.33 pp
1994 16.09 −0.39 pp
1993 16.48 +1.04 pp
1992 15.44 +0.74 pp
1991 14.7

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.