High income Countries 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, Uruguay, Guyana and Spain. The median across all 63 is 13.8% of labour force aged 15-24; Qatar is last at 0.559% 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
- 13.8% of labour force aged 15-24
- Coverage
- 63 High income countries
- Data year
- 2025
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
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 Uruguay
Uruguay ranks #3 on this list with 25.1% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Montevideo
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 3.38 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$85.35 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$25,216 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 78.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 95.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Montevideo.
Also ranks #1 in atms per 100,000 adults · #3 in agricultural land share · #5 in suicide mortality rate.
#4 Guyana
Guyana ranks #4 on this list with 24.9% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Georgetown
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 835,990 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$27.1 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$32,414 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 70.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 26.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in gdp growth rate · #1 in industry value added share of gdp · #1 in livestock production index.
#5 Spain
Spain ranks #5 on this list with 24.7% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Madrid
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 49.36 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.91 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$38,627 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Madrid city, Barcelona, City of Valencia.
Also ranks #7 in female life expectancy · #7 in government debt share of gdp · #8 in tourism arrivals.
#6 Romania
Romania ranks #6 on this list with 24.5% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Bucharest
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 19.02 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$428.68 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$22,538 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 52.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bucharest.
Also ranks #1 in alcohol consumption per capita · #8 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #13 in death rate.
#7 Sweden
Sweden ranks #7 on this list with 24.3% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Stockholm
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 10.6 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$669 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$63,133 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö.
Also ranks #3 in researchers in r&d per million · #4 in r&d expenditure share of gdp · #6 in male life expectancy.
#8 Virgin Islands (US)
Virgin Islands (US) ranks #8 on this list with 24.2% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Charlotte Amalie
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 103,790 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$4.67 billion (2022)
- GDP per person
- US$44,321 (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 80.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 95.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #8 in age dependency ratio (old) · #8 in trade share of gdp · #13 in population ages 65+ share.
#9 Chile
Chile ranks #9 on this list with 21.6% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Santiago
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 19.86 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$357.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$17,995 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Santiago, Santo Domingo.
Also ranks #5 in mineral rents share of gdp · #7 in school enrolment (tertiary) · #10 in fish production.
#10 Finland
Finland ranks #10 on this list with 21.5% of labour force aged 15-24.
- Capital
- Helsinki
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.65 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$317.04 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$56,149 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 74.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in rule of law score · #2 in bank accounts share (adults) · #2 in control of corruption score.
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.