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 16.02 percent. The highest value was in Djibouti: 76.86 percent and the lowest value was in Qatar: 0.63 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 76.86 1 1991 - 2023
South Africa 50.47 2 1991 - 2023
Libya 48.79 3 1991 - 2023
Swaziland 47.34 4 1991 - 2023
Botswana 43.61 5 1991 - 2023
St. Vincent & ... 42.19 6 1991 - 2023
Jordan 41.69 7 1991 - 2023
R. of Congo 40.9 8 1991 - 2023
Tunisia 40.46 9 1991 - 2023
Sudan 39.05 10 1991 - 2023
Namibia 38.41 11 1991 - 2023
Haiti 37.21 12 1991 - 2023
Gabon 36.41 13 1991 - 2023
Saint Lucia 36.35 14 1991 - 2023
Somalia 34.48 15 1991 - 2023
Syria 33.35 16 1991 - 2023
Yemen 32.91 17 1991 - 2023
Iraq 32.28 18 1991 - 2023
N. Caledonia 32.05 19 1991 - 2023
Algeria 31.33 20 1991 - 2023
Georgia 30.54 21 1991 - 2023
Bosnia & Herz. 29.81 22 1991 - 2023
Bhutan 29.45 23 1991 - 2023
Cape Verde 28.58 24 1991 - 2023
Spain 28.49 25 1991 - 2023
Angola 27.63 26 1991 - 2023
North Macedonia 27.2 27 1991 - 2023
Montenegro 27.05 28 1991 - 2023
Albania 26.94 29 1991 - 2023
Sri Lanka 26.71 30 1991 - 2023
Uruguay 26.09 31 1991 - 2023
Suriname 26.03 32 1991 - 2023
Greece 25.28 33 1991 - 2023
Costa Rica 24.74 34 1991 - 2023
Barbados 24.56 35 1991 - 2023
Lesotho 24.51 36 1991 - 2023
Mauritania 23.92 37 1991 - 2023
Lebanon 23.85 38 1991 - 2023
Bahamas 23.8 39 1991 - 2023
Morocco 23.41 40 1991 - 2023
Italy 22.89 41 1991 - 2023
Iran 22.65 42 1991 - 2023
Sweden 22.37 43 1991 - 2023
Romania 22.15 44 1991 - 2023
Guyana 21.94 45 1991 - 2023
Rwanda 21.87 46 1991 - 2023
Chile 21.65 47 1991 - 2023
Serbia 21.48 48 1991 - 2023
S.T.&Principe 21.12 49 1991 - 2023
Nepal 20.55 50 1991 - 2023
Afghanistan 19.8 51 1991 - 2023
Samoa 19.39 52 1991 - 2023
Slovakia 19.27 53 1991 - 2023
Croatia 19.25 54 1991 - 2023
Colombia 19.21 55 1991 - 2023
Argentina 18.82 56 1991 - 2023
Armenia 18.65 57 1991 - 2023
Portugal 18.58 58 1991 - 2023
Mauritius 18.37 59 1991 - 2023
Panama 18.22 60 1991 - 2023
Jamaica 18.05 61 1991 - 2023
India 17.97 62 1991 - 2023
Turkey 17.91 63 1991 - 2023
Brazil 17.74 64 1991 - 2023
Belize 17.28 65 1991 - 2023
Cyprus 17.11 66 1991 - 2023
Luxembourg 16.83 67 1991 - 2023
Tajikistan 16.7 68 1991 - 2023
Brunei 16.64 69 1991 - 2023
Eq. Guinea 16.36 70 1991 - 2023
Estonia 15.96 71 1991 - 2023
China 15.9 72 1991 - 2023
Finland 15.75 73 1991 - 2023
France 15.68 74 1991 - 2023
Saudi Arabia 15.61 75 1991 - 2023
Egypt 15.6 76 1991 - 2023
Fiji 15.06 77 1991 - 2023
Kuwait 14.82 78 1991 - 2023
Zimbabwe 14.57 79 1991 - 2023
Maldives 14.55 80 1991 - 2023
Belgium 14.49 81 1991 - 2023
Puerto Rico 14.14 82 1991 - 2023
Azerbaijan 13.61 83 1991 - 2023
Indonesia 13.26 84 1991 - 2023
Hungary 12.66 85 1991 - 2023
Russia 12.42 86 1991 - 2023
Kenya 12.33 87 1991 - 2023
Bangladesh 12.27 88 1991 - 2023
Latvia 12.19 89 1991 - 2023
Honduras 12.18 90 1991 - 2023
Paraguay 12.14 91 1991 - 2023
Domin. Rep. 12.06 92 1991 - 2023
UK 12.01 93 1991 - 2023
Venezuela 11.66 94 1991 - 2023
Poland 11.49 95 1991 - 2023
Vanuatu 11 96 1991 - 2023
Denmark 10.95 97 1991 - 2023
Tr.&Tobago 10.93 98 1991 - 2023
Comoros 10.8 99 1991 - 2023
Lithuania 10.8 100 1991 - 2023
Ireland 10.79 101 1991 - 2023
C.A. Republic 10.76 102 1991 - 2023
Malaysia 10.66 103 1991 - 2023
New Zealand 10.66 104 1991 - 2023
Canada 10.56 105 1991 - 2023
Uzbekistan 10.56 106 1991 - 2023
Hong Kong 10.53 107 1991 - 2023
Austria 10.44 108 1991 - 2023
Bulgaria 10.44 109 1991 - 2023
Norway 10.33 110 1991 - 2023
Eritrea 10.06 111 1991 - 2023
Pakistan 10.01 112 1991 - 2023
Belarus 9.92 113 1991 - 2023
UA Emirates 9.84 114 1991 - 2023
Burma 9.77 115 1991 - 2023
Mongolia 9.73 116 1991 - 2023
Czechia 9.46 117 1991 - 2023
Nicaragua 9.19 118 1991 - 2023
Togo 9.19 119 1991 - 2023
Turkmenistan 8.96 120 1991 - 2023
Netherlands 8.73 121 1991 - 2023
Slovenia 8.73 122 1991 - 2023
Malta 8.51 123 1991 - 2023
DR Congo 8.4 124 1991 - 2023
Australia 8.28 125 1991 - 2023
Kyrgyzstan 8.24 126 1991 - 2023
Burkina Faso 8.15 127 1991 - 2023
USA 7.98 128 1991 - 2023
Zambia 7.91 129 1991 - 2023
Peru 7.86 130 1991 - 2023
Mozambique 7.74 131 1991 - 2023
Singapore 7.57 132 1991 - 2023
Ecuador 7.54 133 1991 - 2023
Guinea 7.32 134 1991 - 2023
Gambia 7.19 135 1991 - 2023
Bolivia 7.18 136 1991 - 2023
North Korea 7.15 137 1991 - 2023
Oman 6.99 138 1991 - 2023
El Salvador 6.91 139 1991 - 2023
Tonga 6.9 140 1991 - 2023
Switzerland 6.72 141 1991 - 2023
Malawi 6.69 142 1991 - 2023
Nigeria 6.69 143 1991 - 2023
Philippines 6.69 144 1991 - 2023
Ghana 6.68 145 1991 - 2023
Iceland 6.55 146 1991 - 2023
Cameroon 6.46 147 1991 - 2023
Guatemala 6.44 148 1991 - 2023
Vietnam 6.33 149 1991 - 2023
Laos 6.29 150 1991 - 2023
Germany 6 151 1991 - 2023
Israel 5.87 152 1991 - 2023
Mexico 5.85 153 1991 - 2023
Bahrain 5.76 154 1991 - 2023
Thailand 5.52 155 1991 - 2023
Ethiopia 5.34 156 1991 - 2023
South Korea 5.03 157 1991 - 2023
Macao 4.97 158 1991 - 2023
Papua N.G. 4.86 159 1991 - 2023
Mali 4.57 160 1991 - 2023
Uganda 4.47 161 1991 - 2023
Japan 4.2 162 1991 - 2023
Senegal 4.15 163 1991 - 2023
Ivory Coast 3.98 164 1991 - 2023
G.-Bissau 3.91 165 1991 - 2023
Benin 3.75 166 1991 - 2023
Kazakhstan 3.64 167 1991 - 2023
Sierra Leone 3.64 168 1991 - 2023
Moldova 3.51 169 1991 - 2023
Tanzania 3.48 170 1991 - 2023
Madagascar 3.46 171 1991 - 2023
Solomon Isl. 2.99 172 1991 - 2023
Liberia 2.13 173 1991 - 2023
Burundi 1.59 174 1991 - 2023
Chad 1.33 175 1991 - 2023
Cambodia 0.72 176 1991 - 2023
Niger 0.64 177 1991 - 2023
Qatar 0.63 178 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

Most commonly used measures of corruption

All articles

1. Djibouti
2. South Africa
3. Libya
4. Swaziland
5. Botswana
6. St. Vincent & ...
7. Jordan
8. R. of Congo
9. Tunisia
10. Sudan
11. Namibia
12. Haiti
13. Gabon
14. Saint Lucia
15. Somalia
16. Syria
17. Yemen
18. Iraq
19. N. Caledonia
20. Algeria
21. Georgia
22. Bosnia & Herz.
23. Bhutan
24. Cape Verde
25. Spain
26. Angola
27. North Macedonia
28. Montenegro
29. Albania
30. Sri Lanka
31. Uruguay
32. Suriname
33. Greece
34. Costa Rica
35. Barbados
36. Lesotho
37. Mauritania
38. Lebanon
39. Bahamas
40. Morocco
41. Italy
42. Iran
43. Sweden
44. Romania
45. Guyana
46. Rwanda
47. Chile
48. Serbia
49. S.T.&Principe
50. Nepal
51. Afghanistan
52. Samoa
53. Slovakia
54. Croatia
55. Colombia
56. Argentina
57. Armenia
58. Portugal
59. Mauritius
60. Panama
61. Jamaica
62. India
63. Turkey
64. Brazil
65. Belize
66. Cyprus
67. Luxembourg
68. Tajikistan
69. Brunei
70. Eq. Guinea
71. Estonia
72. China
73. Finland
74. France
75. Saudi Arabia
76. Egypt
77. Fiji
78. Kuwait
79. Zimbabwe
80. Maldives
81. Belgium
82. Puerto Rico
83. Azerbaijan
84. Indonesia
85. Hungary
86. Russia
87. Kenya
88. Bangladesh
89. Latvia
90. Honduras
91. Paraguay
92. Domin. Rep.
93. UK
94. Venezuela
95. Poland
96. Vanuatu
97. Denmark
98. Tr.&Tobago
99. Comoros
100. Lithuania
101. Ireland
102. C.A. Republic
103. Malaysia
104. New Zealand
105. Canada
106. Uzbekistan
107. Hong Kong
108. Austria
109. Bulgaria
110. Norway
111. Eritrea
112. Pakistan
113. Belarus
114. UA Emirates
115. Burma
116. Mongolia
117. Czechia
118. Nicaragua
119. Togo
120. Turkmenistan
121. Netherlands
122. Slovenia
123. Malta
124. DR Congo
125. Australia
126. Kyrgyzstan
127. Burkina Faso
128. USA
129. Zambia
130. Peru
131. Mozambique
132. Singapore
133. Ecuador
134. Guinea
135. Gambia
136. Bolivia
137. North Korea
138. Oman
139. El Salvador
140. Tonga
141. Switzerland
142. Malawi
143. Nigeria
144. Philippines
145. Ghana
146. Iceland
147. Cameroon
148. Guatemala
149. Vietnam
150. Laos
151. Germany
152. Israel
153. Mexico
154. Bahrain
155. Thailand
156. Ethiopia
157. South Korea
158. Macao
159. Papua N.G.
160. Mali
161. Uganda
162. Japan
163. Senegal
164. Ivory Coast
165. G.-Bissau
166. Benin
167. Kazakhstan
168. Sierra Leone
169. Moldova
170. Tanzania
171. Madagascar
172. Solomon Isl.
173. Liberia
174. Burundi
175. Chad
176. Cambodia
177. Niger
178. Qatar
76.86
50.47
48.79
47.34
43.61
42.19
41.69
40.90
40.46
39.05
38.41
37.21
36.41
36.35
34.48
33.35
32.91
32.28
32.05
31.33
30.54
29.81
29.45
28.58
28.49
27.63
27.20
27.05
26.94
26.71
26.09
26.03
25.28
24.74
24.56
24.51
23.92
23.85
23.80
23.41
22.89
22.65
22.37
22.15
21.94
21.87
21.65
21.48
21.12
20.55
19.80
19.39
19.27
19.25
19.21
18.82
18.65
18.58
18.37
18.22
18.05
17.97
17.91
17.74
17.28
17.11
16.83
16.70
16.64
16.36
15.96
15.90
15.75
15.68
15.61
15.60
15.06
14.82
14.57
14.55
14.49
14.14
13.61
13.26
12.66
12.42
12.33
12.27
12.19
12.18
12.14
12.06
12.01
11.66
11.49
11.00
10.95
10.93
10.80
10.80
10.79
10.76
10.66
10.66
10.56
10.56
10.53
10.44
10.44
10.33
10.06
10.01
9.92
9.84
9.77
9.73
9.46
9.19
9.19
8.96
8.73
8.73
8.51
8.40
8.28
8.24
8.15
7.98
7.91
7.86
7.74
7.57
7.54
7.32
7.19
7.18
7.15
6.99
6.91
6.90
6.72
6.69
6.69
6.69
6.68
6.55
6.46
6.44
6.33
6.29
6.00
5.87
5.85
5.76
5.52
5.34
5.03
4.97
4.86
4.57
4.47
4.20
4.15
3.98
3.91
3.75
3.64
3.64
3.51
3.48
3.46
2.99
2.13
1.59
1.33
0.72
0.64
0.63
0
19.2
38.4
57.6
76.86


This site uses cookies.
Learn more here


OK