Youth unemployment — all countries

Youth unemployment — Upper-middle-income countries

Youth unemployment in upper-middle-income countries in 2025 — 15.54%. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 8.42 pp.

2025 15.54% +0.21 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 16.01%2020
Period minimum 7.11%1991

Trend over time

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

Youth unemployment — Upper-middle-income countries, 1991–202557.51012.51517.519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 7.11%1992: 7.37%1993: 7.95%1994: 8.96%1995: 9.75%1996: 10.16%1997: 10.31%1998: 10.92%1999: 11.52%2000: 11.55%2001: 12.21%2002: 13.1%2003: 13.45%2004: 13.36%2005: 13.51%2006: 12.97%2007: 12.65%2008: 12.62%2009: 13.31%2010: 12.72%2011: 12.7%2012: 12.5%2013: 12.63%2014: 12.78%2015: 13.34%2016: 13.78%2017: 13.77%2018: 13.52%2019: 14.05%2020: 16.01%2021: 15.45%2022: 15.77%2023: 15.76%2024: 15.33%2025: 15.54%
Change over the period: +8.42 pp Annual average: 0.25 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Upper-middle-income countries

Upper-middle-income countries 15.54%
World 13.41%
Youth unemployment — Upper-middle-income countries, by year Upper-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 15.54 +0.21 pp
2024 15.33 −0.43 pp
2023 15.76 −0.01 pp
2022 15.77 +0.32 pp
2021 15.45 −0.56 pp
2020 16.01 +1.96 pp
2019 14.05 +0.53 pp
2018 13.52 −0.25 pp
2017 13.77 −0.01 pp
2016 13.78 +0.44 pp
2015 13.34 +0.56 pp
2014 12.78 +0.15 pp
2013 12.63 +0.13 pp
2012 12.5 −0.2 pp
2011 12.7 −0.02 pp
2010 12.72 −0.59 pp
2009 13.31 +0.69 pp
2008 12.62 −0.03 pp
2007 12.65 −0.33 pp
2006 12.97 −0.53 pp
2005 13.51 +0.15 pp
2004 13.36 −0.1 pp
2003 13.45 +0.35 pp
2002 13.1 +0.9 pp
2001 12.21 +0.65 pp
2000 11.55 +0.04 pp
1999 11.52 +0.6 pp
1998 10.92 +0.61 pp
1997 10.31 +0.15 pp
1996 10.16 +0.41 pp
1995 9.75 +0.79 pp
1994 8.96 +1.01 pp
1993 7.95 +0.58 pp
1992 7.37 +0.26 pp
1991 7.11

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.