Youth unemployment (15-24) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan stood at 18.65% in 2025, according to World Bank. The latest value is up 0.12 percentage points from 18.53% in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 20.12% (down 1.47 percentage points since). The highest value since 1991 was 21.11% in 2020, the lowest 15.27% in 2009.
Data source: World Bank · Unit: % · Category: Labor and Employment · Explore more indicators on EconDash
Youth unemployment (15-24), measured in %, reflects labor market conditions in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, indicating the balance between available workers and job openings. It serves as a crucial signal of economic health, consumer spending capacity, and social stability. Labor market data typically includes multiple dimensions: unemployment rates, employment-to-population ratios, labor force participation, and wage growth. Each metric captures different aspects of job market dynamics — for example, the unemployment rate counts only those actively seeking work, while the participation rate reveals how many working-age people are engaged in the labor market. In Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, labor statistics are gathered through household surveys, employer reports, and administrative records like unemployment benefit claims. Changes in Youth unemployment (15-24) often precede broader economic shifts: rising unemployment typically signals slowing economic activity, while tightening labor markets may foreshadow wage pressures and inflation.
Youth unemployment (15-24) in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan stood at 18.65% in 2025, according to World Bank.
The latest value is up 0.12 percentage points from 18.53% in 2024. Ten years earlier, in 2015, the value was 20.12% (down 1.47 percentage points since).
The highest value since 1991 was 21.11% in 2020, the lowest 15.27% in 2009.
| Indicator | Youth unemployment (15-24) |
|---|---|
| Country | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| Category | Labor and Employment |
| Unit | % |
| Source | World Bank |
| Interactive chart | View on EconDash |
| API access | EconDash API documentation |
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World Bank. (2026). Youth unemployment (15-24) — Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/MEA. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS
World Bank. "Youth unemployment (15-24) — Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/MEA. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS.
World Bank. 2026. "Youth unemployment (15-24) — Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/MEA. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS.
@misc{econdash_youth_unemployment_15_24_mea,
author = {{World Bank}},
title = {{Youth unemployment (15-24) --- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan \& Pakistan}},
howpublished = {EconDash},
year = {2026},
url = {https://econdash.org/chart/youth-unemployment-15-24/MEA},
note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.1524.ZS}
}Browse indicators available for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan. Click any indicator to view its interactive chart, compare with other countries, and download historical data.
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