Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — United Arab Emirates

Youth unemployment in the United Arab Emirates in 2025 — 6.45%. Ranked 37 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 2.53 pp.

2025 6.45% +0.03 pp vs 2024
World rank 37of 182
Period maximum 13.48%2020
Period minimum 3.93%1991

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — United Arab Emirates, 1991–202505101519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 3.93%1992: 4.06%1993: 4.3%1994: 4.31%1995: 4.36%1996: 4.5%1997: 4.59%1998: 4.79%1999: 4.98%2000: 5.14%2001: 5.63%2002: 6.18%2003: 6.83%2004: 7.36%2005: 8.05%2006: 7.92%2007: 7.8%2008: 7.54%2009: 7.47%2010: 7.19%2011: 6.86%2012: 6.47%2013: 6.12%2014: 5.82%2015: 5.44%2016: 5.11%2017: 7.47%2018: 6.75%2019: 7.33%2020: 13.48%2021: 9.74%2022: 9.99%2023: 6.35%2024: 6.43%2025: 6.45%
Change over the period: +2.53 pp Annual average: 0.07 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates 6.45%
World 13.41%
Western Asia computed 18.31%
High-income countries computed 11.17%
Youth unemployment — United Arab Emirates, by year United Arab Emirates All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 6.45 +0.03 pp
2024 6.43 +0.07 pp
2023 6.35 −3.64 pp
2022 9.99 +0.26 pp
2021 9.74 −3.75 pp
2020 13.48 +6.16 pp
2019 7.33 +0.58 pp
2018 6.75 −0.73 pp
2017 7.47 +2.37 pp
2016 5.11 −0.34 pp
2015 5.44 −0.38 pp
2014 5.82 −0.29 pp
2013 6.12 −0.35 pp
2012 6.47 −0.39 pp
2011 6.86 −0.34 pp
2010 7.19 −0.28 pp
2009 7.47 −0.07 pp
2008 7.54 −0.26 pp
2007 7.8 −0.12 pp
2006 7.92 −0.13 pp
2005 8.05 +0.68 pp
2004 7.36 +0.53 pp
2003 6.83 +0.65 pp
2002 6.18 +0.56 pp
2001 5.63 +0.49 pp
2000 5.14 +0.16 pp
1999 4.98 +0.19 pp
1998 4.79 +0.2 pp
1997 4.59 +0.09 pp
1996 4.5 +0.14 pp
1995 4.36 +0.05 pp
1994 4.31 +0.02 pp
1993 4.3 +0.24 pp
1992 4.06 +0.14 pp
1991 3.93

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.