Youth unemployment - Country rankings

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

Youth unemployment, ages 15-24, 2023:

The average for 2023 based on 178 countries was 16.08 percent. The highest value was in Djibouti: 76.47 percent and the lowest value was in Qatar: 0.6 percent. The indicator is available from 1991 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Measure: percent; Source: The World Bank
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Countries Youth unemployment, 2023 Global rank Available data
Djibouti 76.47 1 1991 - 2023
Swaziland 64.99 2 1991 - 2023
Libya 49.44 3 1991 - 2023
South Africa 49.14 4 1991 - 2023
Botswana 45.41 5 1991 - 2023
St. Vincent & ... 42.31 6 1991 - 2023
R. of Congo 41.2 7 1991 - 2023
Jordan 40.8 8 1991 - 2023
Namibia 38.03 9 1991 - 2023
Tunisia 37.48 10 1991 - 2023
Haiti 36.8 11 1991 - 2023
Gabon 36.53 12 1991 - 2023
Somalia 34.28 13 1991 - 2023
Syria 33.52 14 1991 - 2023
Yemen 32.65 15 1991 - 2023
N. Caledonia 32.57 16 1991 - 2023
Iraq 32.23 17 1991 - 2023
Algeria 30.78 18 1991 - 2023
Georgia 30.2 19 1991 - 2023
Bhutan 29.24 20 1991 - 2023
Spain 28.7 21 1991 - 2023
Cape Verde 28.65 22 1991 - 2023
North Macedonia 28.57 23 1991 - 2023
Albania 28.25 24 1991 - 2023
Angola 28.24 25 1991 - 2023
Saint Lucia 28.15 26 1991 - 2023
Montenegro 27.93 27 1991 - 2023
Greece 26.57 28 1991 - 2023
Bosnia & Herz. 26.52 29 1991 - 2023
Uruguay 26.16 30 1991 - 2023
Guyana 25.87 31 1991 - 2023
Suriname 25.29 32 1991 - 2023
Sri Lanka 25.28 33 1991 - 2023
Barbados 24.87 34 1991 - 2023
Lesotho 24.84 35 1991 - 2023
Serbia 24.31 36 1991 - 2023
Costa Rica 24.1 37 1991 - 2023
Lebanon 23.74 38 1991 - 2023
Mauritania 23.73 39 1991 - 2023
Bahamas 23.57 40 1991 - 2023
Iran 22.79 41 1991 - 2023
Italy 22.73 42 1991 - 2023
Morocco 22.61 43 1991 - 2023
Chile 22.05 44 1991 - 2023
Rwanda 21.97 45 1991 - 2023
Sweden 21.57 46 1991 - 2023
Romania 21.3 47 1991 - 2023
S.T.&Principe 21.08 48 1991 - 2023
Mauritius 20.87 49 1991 - 2023
Nepal 20.36 50 1991 - 2023
Portugal 20.25 51 1991 - 2023
Samoa 19.75 52 1991 - 2023
Slovakia 19.41 53 1991 - 2023
Colombia 19.27 54 1991 - 2023
Croatia 19.24 55 1991 - 2023
Egypt 18.99 56 1991 - 2023
Luxembourg 18.99 57 1991 - 2023
Armenia 18.96 58 1991 - 2023
Brunei 18.61 59 1991 - 2023
Sudan 18.15 60 1991 - 2023
Afghanistan 18.08 61 1991 - 2023
Argentina 18 62 1991 - 2023
Brazil 17.9 63 1991 - 2023
Turkey 17.61 64 1991 - 2023
Cyprus 17.45 65 1991 - 2023
Belize 17.41 66 1991 - 2023
France 17.13 67 1991 - 2023
Estonia 17.09 68 1991 - 2023
Tajikistan 16.9 69 1991 - 2023
Panama 16.59 70 1991 - 2023
Eq. Guinea 16.35 71 1991 - 2023
Saudi Arabia 16.25 72 1991 - 2023
Belgium 16.09 73 1991 - 2023
Finland 15.92 74 1991 - 2023
India 15.79 75 1991 - 2023
Bangladesh 15.74 76 1991 - 2023
China 15.72 77 1991 - 2023
Fiji 15.24 78 1991 - 2023
Kuwait 14.99 79 1991 - 2023
Maldives 14.93 80 1991 - 2023
Zimbabwe 14.28 81 1991 - 2023
Indonesia 13.94 82 1991 - 2023
Lithuania 13.9 83 1991 - 2023
Jamaica 13.84 84 1991 - 2023
Puerto Rico 13.65 85 1991 - 2023
Azerbaijan 13.55 86 1991 - 2023
Paraguay 13.03 87 1991 - 2023
Hungary 12.76 88 1991 - 2023
Russia 12.7 89 1991 - 2023
UK 12.54 90 1991 - 2023
Latvia 12.5 91 1991 - 2023
Malaysia 12.49 92 1991 - 2023
Kenya 12.23 93 1991 - 2023
Bulgaria 11.99 94 1991 - 2023
Domin. Rep. 11.75 95 1991 - 2023
Denmark 11.66 96 1991 - 2023
Poland 11.58 97 1991 - 2023
Mongolia 11.4 98 1991 - 2023
Honduras 10.99 99 1991 - 2023
Uzbekistan 10.97 100 1991 - 2023
Norway 10.95 101 1991 - 2023
Austria 10.93 102 1991 - 2023
Comoros 10.89 103 1991 - 2023
Venezuela 10.77 104 1991 - 2023
New Zealand 10.72 105 1991 - 2023
Vanuatu 10.71 106 1991 - 2023
C.A. Republic 10.7 107 1991 - 2023
UA Emirates 10.65 108 1991 - 2023
Gambia 10.64 109 1991 - 2023
Canada 10.59 110 1991 - 2023
Ireland 10.54 111 1991 - 2023
Hong Kong 10.45 112 1991 - 2023
Belarus 10.23 113 1991 - 2023
Tr.&Tobago 10.12 114 1991 - 2023
Eritrea 10.01 115 1991 - 2023
Slovenia 9.91 116 1991 - 2023
Zambia 9.76 117 1991 - 2023
Burma 9.71 118 1991 - 2023
Pakistan 9.65 119 1991 - 2023
Nicaragua 9.48 120 1991 - 2023
Malta 9.34 121 1991 - 2023
Iceland 9.16 122 1991 - 2023
Turkmenistan 9.06 123 1991 - 2023
Netherlands 8.94 124 1991 - 2023
Peru 8.8 125 1991 - 2023
DR Congo 8.6 126 1991 - 2023
Australia 8.57 127 1991 - 2023
Singapore 8.29 128 1991 - 2023
Czechia 8.28 129 1991 - 2023
Kyrgyzstan 8.2 130 1991 - 2023
Switzerland 8 131 1991 - 2023
Burkina Faso 7.96 132 1991 - 2023
USA 7.9 133 1991 - 2023
Mozambique 7.58 134 1991 - 2023
Guinea 7.27 135 1991 - 2023
Ecuador 7.21 136 1991 - 2023
El Salvador 7.18 137 1991 - 2023
North Korea 7.09 138 1991 - 2023
Macao 6.97 139 1991 - 2023
Oman 6.85 140 1991 - 2023
Philippines 6.85 141 1991 - 2023
Malawi 6.76 142 1991 - 2023
Tonga 6.7 143 1991 - 2023
Cameroon 6.44 144 1991 - 2023
Vietnam 6.2 145 1991 - 2023
Mexico 6.11 146 1991 - 2023
Israel 6.03 147 1991 - 2023
Germany 5.96 148 1991 - 2023
Guatemala 5.87 149 1991 - 2023
Nigeria 5.84 150 1991 - 2023
Bahrain 5.82 151 1991 - 2023
Ethiopia 5.58 152 1991 - 2023
Madagascar 5.51 153 1991 - 2023
Ghana 5.5 154 1991 - 2023
South Korea 5.37 155 1991 - 2023
Thailand 5.31 156 1991 - 2023
Bolivia 5.26 157 1991 - 2023
Uganda 4.5 158 1991 - 2023
Moldova 4.18 159 1991 - 2023
Senegal 4.12 160 1991 - 2023
Mali 4.11 161 1991 - 2023
Japan 4.09 162 1991 - 2023
G.-Bissau 4.04 163 1991 - 2023
Ivory Coast 3.98 164 1991 - 2023
Benin 3.89 165 1991 - 2023
Kazakhstan 3.82 166 1991 - 2023
Papua N.G. 3.7 167 1991 - 2023
Sierra Leone 3.57 168 1991 - 2023
Tanzania 3.49 169 1991 - 2023
Togo 3.27 170 1991 - 2023
Solomon Isl. 3 171 1991 - 2023
Liberia 2.26 172 1991 - 2023
Laos 2.18 173 1991 - 2023
Burundi 1.72 174 1991 - 2023
Chad 1.49 175 1991 - 2023
Niger 0.84 176 1991 - 2023
Cambodia 0.78 177 1991 - 2023
Qatar 0.6 178 1991 - 2023



Definition: Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.
What explains the differences in youth unemployment across countries

Youth unemployment is typically high in countries with overall high unemployment where the economy is struggling to create jobs. These are the countries at the top the chart. Further below, at around 20-30 percent unemployment one sees several advanced European countries such as Greece, Italy, and Spain. These countries do not have very dynamic labor markets with a big churn of new positions. Also, older workers are more entrenched in their positions and the firing and hiring of labor is more complicated by regulations and customs.

Notice also that countries with significant demographic issues such as South Korea and Japan have very low youth unemployment. There just aren't many young people, relatively speaking. In some countries at the bottom of the chart such as Chad, Liberia, and Niger there are many young people but they may be out of the labor force. Recall that to be considered unemployed one has to be without a job but actively looking for one.


Selected articles from our guide:

The unholy trinity of international finance

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All articles

1. Djibouti
2. Swaziland
3. Libya
4. South Africa
5. Botswana
6. St. Vincent & ...
7. R. of Congo
8. Jordan
9. Namibia
10. Tunisia
11. Haiti
12. Gabon
13. Somalia
14. Syria
15. Yemen
16. N. Caledonia
17. Iraq
18. Algeria
19. Georgia
20. Bhutan
21. Spain
22. Cape Verde
23. North Macedonia
24. Albania
25. Angola
26. Saint Lucia
27. Montenegro
28. Greece
29. Bosnia & Herz.
30. Uruguay
31. Guyana
32. Suriname
33. Sri Lanka
34. Barbados
35. Lesotho
36. Serbia
37. Costa Rica
38. Lebanon
39. Mauritania
40. Bahamas
41. Iran
42. Italy
43. Morocco
44. Chile
45. Rwanda
46. Sweden
47. Romania
48. S.T.&Principe
49. Mauritius
50. Nepal
51. Portugal
52. Samoa
53. Slovakia
54. Colombia
55. Croatia
56. Egypt
57. Luxembourg
58. Armenia
59. Brunei
60. Sudan
61. Afghanistan
62. Argentina
63. Brazil
64. Turkey
65. Cyprus
66. Belize
67. France
68. Estonia
69. Tajikistan
70. Panama
71. Eq. Guinea
72. Saudi Arabia
73. Belgium
74. Finland
75. India
76. Bangladesh
77. China
78. Fiji
79. Kuwait
80. Maldives
81. Zimbabwe
82. Indonesia
83. Lithuania
84. Jamaica
85. Puerto Rico
86. Azerbaijan
87. Paraguay
88. Hungary
89. Russia
90. UK
91. Latvia
92. Malaysia
93. Kenya
94. Bulgaria
95. Domin. Rep.
96. Denmark
97. Poland
98. Mongolia
99. Honduras
100. Uzbekistan
101. Norway
102. Austria
103. Comoros
104. Venezuela
105. New Zealand
106. Vanuatu
107. C.A. Republic
108. UA Emirates
109. Gambia
110. Canada
111. Ireland
112. Hong Kong
113. Belarus
114. Tr.&Tobago
115. Eritrea
116. Slovenia
117. Zambia
118. Burma
119. Pakistan
120. Nicaragua
121. Malta
122. Iceland
123. Turkmenistan
124. Netherlands
125. Peru
126. DR Congo
127. Australia
128. Singapore
129. Czechia
130. Kyrgyzstan
131. Switzerland
132. Burkina Faso
133. USA
134. Mozambique
135. Guinea
136. Ecuador
137. El Salvador
138. North Korea
139. Macao
140. Oman
141. Philippines
142. Malawi
143. Tonga
144. Cameroon
145. Vietnam
146. Mexico
147. Israel
148. Germany
149. Guatemala
150. Nigeria
151. Bahrain
152. Ethiopia
153. Madagascar
154. Ghana
155. South Korea
156. Thailand
157. Bolivia
158. Uganda
159. Moldova
160. Senegal
161. Mali
162. Japan
163. G.-Bissau
164. Ivory Coast
165. Benin
166. Kazakhstan
167. Papua N.G.
168. Sierra Leone
169. Tanzania
170. Togo
171. Solomon Isl.
172. Liberia
173. Laos
174. Burundi
175. Chad
176. Niger
177. Cambodia
178. Qatar
76.47
64.99
49.44
49.14
45.41
42.31
41.20
40.80
38.03
37.48
36.80
36.53
34.28
33.52
32.65
32.57
32.23
30.78
30.20
29.24
28.70
28.65
28.57
28.25
28.24
28.15
27.93
26.57
26.52
26.16
25.87
25.29
25.28
24.87
24.84
24.31
24.10
23.74
23.73
23.57
22.79
22.73
22.61
22.05
21.97
21.57
21.30
21.08
20.87
20.36
20.25
19.75
19.41
19.27
19.24
18.99
18.99
18.96
18.61
18.15
18.08
18.00
17.90
17.61
17.45
17.41
17.13
17.09
16.90
16.59
16.35
16.25
16.09
15.92
15.79
15.74
15.72
15.24
14.99
14.93
14.28
13.94
13.90
13.84
13.65
13.55
13.03
12.76
12.70
12.54
12.50
12.49
12.23
11.99
11.75
11.66
11.58
11.40
10.99
10.97
10.95
10.93
10.89
10.77
10.72
10.71
10.70
10.65
10.64
10.59
10.54
10.45
10.23
10.12
10.01
9.91
9.76
9.71
9.65
9.48
9.34
9.16
9.06
8.94
8.80
8.60
8.57
8.29
8.28
8.20
8.00
7.96
7.90
7.58
7.27
7.21
7.18
7.09
6.97
6.85
6.85
6.76
6.70
6.44
6.20
6.11
6.03
5.96
5.87
5.84
5.82
5.58
5.51
5.50
5.37
5.31
5.26
4.50
4.18
4.12
4.11
4.09
4.04
3.98
3.89
3.82
3.70
3.57
3.49
3.27
3.00
2.26
2.18
1.72
1.49
0.84
0.78
0.60
0
19.1
38.2
57.4
76.47


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