Dominican Republic Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Dominican Republic's youth unemployment was 12.31% in 2025, ranked 88th globally. This represents a 4.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Dominican Republic's youth unemployment stood at 12.31% in 2025, a decline of +0.56pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 10.56% by 2026. Dominican Republic ranked 88th globally.
Dominican Republic’s youth unemployment rate has remained at 12.31 % in 2025, matching the level recorded in the earliest observation year of 1991 and placing the country 88th in the global ranking. The indicator reached its all‑time high of 17.39 % in 2013, a spike that followed the global financial crisis and reflected weakened domestic demand for young workers; the lowest point occurred in 2008 at 10.55 %, when a modest economic expansion briefly absorbed more entrants into the labour market. Over the 35‑year series, the rate has oscillated within a narrow band, neither returning to the 2008 trough nor approaching the 2013 peak. Compared with peer nations, Dominican Republic’s figure is slightly lower than Cyprus’s 12.71 % and Latvia’s 12.95 % but higher than Denmark’s 11.74 %, suggesting a moderate performance relative to similarly ranked economies. Continued investment in vocational training and alignment of education with market needs could help lower the youth unemployment rate and shift the trajectory downward in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 8.74% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 9.65% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 10.56% | - | - |
| 2025 | 12.31% | −0.56pp | #88 |
| 2024 | 12.87% | +1.31pp | #90 |
| 2023 | 11.56% | −1.29pp | #86 |
| 2022 | 12.85% | −4.02pp | #90 |
| 2021 | 16.87% | +2.11pp | #109 |
| 2020 | 14.77% | −1.07pp | #86 |
| 2019 | 15.84% | +0.99pp | #110 |
| 2018 | 14.85% | +1.41pp | #103 |
| 2017 | 13.44% | −3.30pp | #95 |
| 2016 | 16.74% | +0.31pp | #107 |
| 2015 | 16.43% | +3.08pp | #105 |
| 2014 | 13.34% | −4.05pp | #84 |
| 2013 | 17.39% | +2.57pp | #103 |
| 2012 | 14.82% | +0.87pp | #87 |
| 2011 | 13.96% | +3.15pp | #85 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Dominican Republic matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2004. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Dominican Republic's youth unemployment was 12.31% in 2025. Ranked 88th globally. This represents a 4.4% decrease from the previous year.
Dominican Republic's youth unemployment peaked at 17.39% in 2013.
The lowest youth unemployment in Dominican Republic was 10.55% in 2008.
Dominican Republic ranks 88th globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Dominican Republic's youth unemployment is projected to reach 10.56% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Dominican Republic in 2025 was 12.31%. This ranks 88th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_dominican-republic_youth-unemployment,
title = {Dominican Republic Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/dominican-republic/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}