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Low 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

Somalia, Fed. Rep. ranks #1 with 34.2% of labour force aged 15-24. Syrian Arab Republic is second with 33.1% of labour force aged 15-24, 3.4% behind. The top five are Somalia, Fed. Rep., Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen, Rep., South Sudan and Afghanistan. The median across all 25 is 7.85% of labour force aged 15-24; Niger is last at 0.457% of labour force aged 15-24. Somalia, Fed. Rep.'s figure has risen 1% since 2001 (33.8% of labour force aged 15-24 to 34.2% of labour force aged 15-24 in 2025).

#1
Somalia, Fed. Rep. · 34.2% of labour force aged 15-24
Median
7.85% of labour force aged 15-24
Coverage
25 Low income countries
Data year
2025
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Youth unemployment rateBar chart of the top 10: 1. Somalia, Fed. Rep. 34.2; 2. Syrian Arab Republic 33.1; 3. Yemen, Rep. 32.6; 4. South Sudan 18.5; 5. Afghanistan 16.8; 6. Rwanda 16.4; 7. Sudan 12; 8. Mozambique 11.6; 9. Gambia, The 10.9; 10. Eritrea 10.2.Somalia, Fed. Rep.34.2Syrian Arab Republic33.1Yemen, Rep.32.6South Sudan18.5Afghanistan16.8Rwanda16.4Sudan12Mozambique11.6Gambia, The10.9Eritrea10.2
Top 10: Youth unemployment rate (% of labour force aged 15-24). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Somalia, Fed. Rep. 34.2; 2. Syrian Arab Republic 33.1; 3. Yemen, Rep. 32.6; 4. South Sudan 18.5; 5. Afghanistan 16.8; 6. Rwanda 16.4; 7. Sudan 12; 8. Mozambique 11.6; 9. Gambia, The 10.9; 10. Eritrea 10.2.
Youth unemployment rate over time, top 5Somalia, Fed. Rep.: 33.8 in 2001 to 34.2 in 2025; Syrian Arab Republic: 22 in 2001 to 33.1 in 2025; Yemen, Rep.: 19 in 2001 to 32.6 in 2025; South Sudan: 18.4 in 2001 to 18.5 in 2023; Afghanistan: 10.3 in 2001 to 16.8 in 2025.09.0718.127.236.3200120132025Somalia, Fed. Rep.Syrian Arab RepublicYemen, Rep.South SudanAfghanistan
Youth unemployment rate over time, top 5 (% of labour force aged 15-24). Somalia, Fed. Rep.: 33.8 in 2001 to 34.2 in 2025; Syrian Arab Republic: 22 in 2001 to 33.1 in 2025; Yemen, Rep.: 19 in 2001 to 32.6 in 2025; South Sudan: 18.4 in 2001 to 18.5 in 2023; Afghanistan: 10.3 in 2001 to 16.8 in 2025.

Full ranking

Low income Countries Ranked by Youth unemployment rate, 2025
RankCountryYouth unemployment rate (% of labour force aged 15-24)Year
1Somalia, Fed. Rep.34.22025
2Syrian Arab Republic33.12025
3Yemen, Rep.32.62025
4South Sudan18.52023
5Afghanistan16.82025
6Rwanda16.42025
7Sudan122022
8Mozambique11.62025
9Gambia, The10.92025
10Eritrea10.22025
11Central African Republic10.12025
12Korea, Dem. People's Rep.7.92025
13Congo, Dem. Rep.7.852025
14Malawi6.952025
15Burkina Faso6.442025
16Ethiopia5.352025
17Madagascar5.252025
18Uganda4.182025
19Mali3.882025
20Sierra Leone3.722025
21Guinea-Bissau2.842025
22Liberia2.32025
23Burundi1.682025
24Chad1.462025
25Niger0.4572025

About the top 10

#1 Somalia, Fed. Rep.

Somalia, Fed. Rep. ranks #1 on this list with 34.2% of labour force aged 15-24.

Capital
Mogadishu
Continent
Africa
Income group
Low income
Population
19.66 million people (2025)
GDP
US$13 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$661.2 (2025)
Life expectancy
59 years (2024)
Urban population
55.1% of population (2025)

Largest cities: North East State of Somalia, Mogadishu.

Also ranks #1 in prevalence of undernourishment · #2 in population ages 0-14 share · #2 in age dependency ratio (young).

Full country profile

#3 Yemen, Rep.

Yemen, Rep. ranks #3 on this list with 32.6% of labour force aged 15-24.

Capital
Sanaa, Aden
Continent
Asia
Income group
Low income
Population
41.77 million people (2025)
Life expectancy
69.4 years (2024)
Urban population
37% of population (2025)
International tourist arrivals
398,000 arrivals (2015)
CO2 emissions per person
0.261 t CO2e per person (2024)

Largest cities: Sanaa, Aden.

Also ranks #2 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #2 in prevalence of wasting (under-5) · #12 in unemployment rate.

Full country profile

#10 Eritrea

Eritrea ranks #10 on this list with 10.2% of labour force aged 15-24.

Capital
Asmara
Continent
Africa
Income group
Low income
Population
3.61 million people (2025)
Life expectancy
68.9 years (2024)
Urban population
34.5% of population (2025)
International tourist arrivals
142,000 arrivals (2016)
CO2 emissions per person
0.22 t CO2e per person (2024)

Also ranks #5 in time to start a business (days) · #9 in refugee population by origin · #12 in female labour force participation.

Full country profile

Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.

Related rankings

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.