Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Western Europe

Youth unemployment in Western Europe in 2025 — 11.78%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 1.32 pp.

2025 11.78% +0.31 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 16.7%2005
Period minimum 10.46%1991

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Western Europe, 1991–2025101214161819911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 10.46%1992: 10.97%1993: 13.54%1994: 15.35%1995: 14.72%1996: 15.34%1997: 16.17%1998: 14.81%1999: 14.38%2000: 11.95%2001: 10.75%2002: 11.82%2003: 12.62%2004: 14.49%2005: 16.7%2006: 15.83%2007: 14.05%2008: 13.37%2009: 15.57%2010: 15.09%2011: 13.94%2012: 14.46%2013: 14.51%2014: 14.52%2015: 14.33%2016: 13.96%2017: 12.73%2018: 11.62%2019: 10.97%2020: 12.41%2021: 11.85%2022: 10.74%2023: 10.73%2024: 11.47%2025: 11.78%
Change over the period: +1.32 pp Annual average: 0.04 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Western Europe 11.78%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Western Europe, by year Western Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 11.78 +0.31 pp
2024 11.47 +0.74 pp
2023 10.73 −0.01 pp
2022 10.74 −1.11 pp
2021 11.85 −0.56 pp
2020 12.41 +1.44 pp
2019 10.97 −0.65 pp
2018 11.62 −1.11 pp
2017 12.73 −1.23 pp
2016 13.96 −0.37 pp
2015 14.33 −0.19 pp
2014 14.52 +0 pp
2013 14.51 +0.05 pp
2012 14.46 +0.52 pp
2011 13.94 −1.15 pp
2010 15.09 −0.48 pp
2009 15.57 +2.2 pp
2008 13.37 −0.69 pp
2007 14.05 −1.78 pp
2006 15.83 −0.87 pp
2005 16.7 +2.21 pp
2004 14.49 +1.87 pp
2003 12.62 +0.8 pp
2002 11.82 +1.07 pp
2001 10.75 −1.2 pp
2000 11.95 −2.43 pp
1999 14.38 −0.43 pp
1998 14.81 −1.36 pp
1997 16.17 +0.83 pp
1996 15.34 +0.62 pp
1995 14.72 −0.64 pp
1994 15.35 +1.82 pp
1993 13.54 +2.57 pp
1992 10.97 +0.51 pp
1991 10.46

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.