Countries in Oceania Ranked by Youth unemployment rate (2025)
Youth unemployment rate: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
French Polynesia ranks #1 with 36.6% of labour force aged 15-24. New Caledonia is second with 33.1% of labour force aged 15-24, 10.4% behind. The top five are French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Fiji, New Zealand and Guam. The median across all 11 is 13% of labour force aged 15-24; Solomon Islands is last at 2.76% of labour force aged 15-24. French Polynesia's figure has risen 11% since 2001 (32.8% of labour force aged 15-24 to 36.6% of labour force aged 15-24 in 2025).
- #1
- French Polynesia · 36.6% of labour force aged 15-24
- Median
- 13% of labour force aged 15-24
- Coverage
- 11 countries in Oceania
- Data year
- 2025
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Youth unemployment rate (% of labour force aged 15-24) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | French Polynesia | 36.6 |
| 2 | New Caledonia | 33.1 |
| 3 | Fiji | 15.2 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 14.4 |
| 5 | Guam | 13.8 |
| 6 | Samoa | 13 |
| 7 | Vanuatu | 11.3 |
| 8 | Australia | 9.61 |
| 9 | Tonga | 6.03 |
| 10 | Papua New Guinea | 3.79 |
| 11 | Solomon Islands | 2.76 |
About the top 10
#1 French Polynesia
French Polynesia ranks #1 on this list with 36.6% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Papeete
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 282,470 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$6.32 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$22,440 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 84.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 61.8% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in female life expectancy · #5 in protected marine area share · #7 in life expectancy.
#2 New Caledonia
New Caledonia ranks #2 on this list with 33.1% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Nouméa
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 295,330 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$8.55 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$29,213 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 78.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 68.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in protected terrestrial area share · #4 in protected marine area share · #4 in mineral rents share of gdp.
#3 Fiji
Fiji ranks #3 on this list with 15.2% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Suva
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 933,150 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$6.2 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,642 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 59.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in mobile subscriptions per 100 · #5 in completion rate (primary) · #6 in livestock production index.
#4 New Zealand
New Zealand ranks #4 on this list with 14.4% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Wellington
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.32 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$264.06 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$49,591 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 84% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Auckland.
Also ranks #3 in voice and accountability score · #4 in tax revenue share of gdp · #4 in control of corruption score.
#5 Guam
Guam ranks #5 on this list with 13.8% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Hagåtña
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 169,000 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$6.91 billion (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$41,833 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 77.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in voice and accountability score · #16 in nurses and midwives per 1,000 · #16 in diabetes prevalence.
#6 Samoa
Samoa ranks #6 on this list with 13% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Apia
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 219,310 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.29 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,873 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 17.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in rural population share · #4 in diabetes prevalence · #16 in age dependency ratio.
#7 Vanuatu
Vanuatu ranks #7 on this list with 11.3% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Port Vila
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 335,170 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.35 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$4,039 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 71.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 22.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #6 in school enrolment (secondary) · #6 in completion rate (primary) · #9 in rural population share.
#8 Australia
Australia ranks #8 on this list with 9.61% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Canberra
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 27.61 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.8 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$65,130 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 87.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane.
Also ranks #2 in regulatory quality score · #3 in access to clean cooking fuels · #4 in new businesses registered.
#9 Tonga
Tonga ranks #9 on this list with 6.03% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Nukuʻalofa
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 103,740 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$679.22 million (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,547 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 21.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #7 in rural population share · #10 in completion rate (primary) · #11 in income share of poorest 10%.
#10 Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea ranks #10 on this list with 3.79% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Port Moresby
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 10.76 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$32.5 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,020 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 66.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 15.8% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in rural population share · #5 in water resources per capita · #6 in smoking prevalence.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Youth unemployment rate: each country's latest value (2020–2025), ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate): ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.