Afghanistan: Youth unemployment

The latest value from 2025 is 16.78 percent, a decline from 17.24 percent in 2024. In comparison, the world average is 15.49 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Afghanistan from 1991 to 2025 is 12.04 percent. The minimum value, 10.04 percent, was reached in 2010 while the maximum of 17.54 percent was recorded in 2022. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

We present the rate of youth unemployment for Afghanistan and other countries. Youth unemployment is the percent of 15-24 year olds who are part of the labor force but are unemployed. Recall that the labor force includes the employed and the unemployed people.

Definition: Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.