Brunei Darussalam Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Brunei Darussalam's youth unemployment was 18.23% in 2025, ranked 123rd globally. This represents a 2.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Brunei Darussalam's youth unemployment stood at 18.23% in 2025, a rise of +0.36pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 18.79% by 2026. Brunei Darussalam ranked 123rd globally.
Brunei Darussalam's youth unemployment rate has experienced a significant fluctuation over the past three decades, with the all-time peak of 30.81% occurring in 2018. This marked a substantial increase from the all-time trough of 14.22% in 1991, which is also the starting point of available data. Notably, the country's current youth unemployment rate of 18.23% ranks 123 globally. In comparison, Belgium's youth unemployment rate stands at 17.78%, a relatively lower rate among peer countries. Conversely, Egypt, Arab Republic of, exhibits a similar rate of 18.29%, indicating that Brunei Darussalam is situated among countries with moderate to high youth unemployment rates. The trend suggests that Brunei Darussalam's youth unemployment rate has been gradually decreasing since its peak in 2018, but its current rate remains higher than the all-time trough of 1991. Should the economy experience sustained growth and job creation, it is likely that the youth unemployment rate will continue to decrease, potentially leading to a more favorable employment landscape for young Bruneians.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 19.50% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 19.14% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 18.79% | - | - |
| 2025 | 18.23% | +0.36pp | #123 |
| 2024 | 17.87% | −0.08pp | #122 |
| 2023 | 17.96% | −0.34pp | #128 |
| 2022 | 18.30% | +2.06pp | #122 |
| 2021 | 16.24% | −10.61pp | #105 |
| 2020 | 26.85% | +6.71pp | #143 |
| 2019 | 20.14% | −10.67pp | #132 |
| 2018 | 30.81% | +1.55pp | #160 |
| 2017 | 29.26% | +1.63pp | #153 |
| 2016 | 27.63% | +1.74pp | #150 |
| 2015 | 25.89% | +1.79pp | #145 |
| 2014 | 24.09% | +0.75pp | #134 |
| 2013 | 23.34% | +0.74pp | #130 |
| 2012 | 22.60% | +0.55pp | #126 |
| 2011 | 22.05% | +0.38pp | #127 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Brunei Darussalam matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Brunei Darussalam's youth unemployment was 18.23% in 2025. Ranked 123rd globally. This represents a 2.0% increase from the previous year.
Brunei Darussalam's youth unemployment peaked at 30.81% in 2018.
The lowest youth unemployment in Brunei Darussalam was 14.22% in 1991.
Brunei Darussalam ranks 123rd globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Brunei Darussalam's youth unemployment is projected to reach 18.79% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Brunei Darussalam in 2025 was 18.23%. This ranks 123rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_brunei-darussalam_youth-unemployment,
title = {Brunei Darussalam Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/brunei-darussalam/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}