Ecuador Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Ecuador's youth unemployment was 8.16% in 2025, ranked 49th globally. This represents a 4.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Ecuador's youth unemployment stood at 8.16% in 2025, a decline of +0.41pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 7.89% by 2026. Ecuador ranked 49th globally.
Ecuador’s youth unemployment rate stands at 8.16 % in 2025, placing the country 49th in a global ranking and slightly above the regional average. The indicator has fluctuated over a 35‑year span, rising from an early‑period level of 9.15 % in 1991 to a historic peak of 11.07 % during the pandemic‑driven downturn of 2020, before falling to a trough of 7.02 % in 2007. Compared with peers of similar rank, Ecuador’s rate is marginally higher than the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s 7.90 % and lower than Trinidad and Tobago’s 8.22 %, suggesting that labor‑market dynamics remain moderately more constrained than in some middle‑income economies. The post‑peak decline reflects a gradual recovery in sectors that traditionally absorb young workers, such as services and informal trade. Continued investment in vocational training and digital skills development could deepen the downward trajectory, potentially bringing Ecuador’s youth unemployment below the 7 % threshold within the next decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 7.55% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 7.72% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 7.89% | - | - |
| 2025 | 8.16% | −0.41pp | #49 |
| 2024 | 8.57% | +0.79pp | #54 |
| 2023 | 7.78% | −0.52pp | #46 |
| 2022 | 8.30% | −0.84pp | #52 |
| 2021 | 9.14% | −1.93pp | #48 |
| 2020 | 11.07% | +2.34pp | #61 |
| 2019 | 8.73% | +0.78pp | #58 |
| 2018 | 7.96% | −0.51pp | #50 |
| 2017 | 8.47% | −1.88pp | #52 |
| 2016 | 10.35% | +1.53pp | #63 |
| 2015 | 8.82% | −0.21pp | #55 |
| 2014 | 9.03% | +0.70pp | #54 |
| 2013 | 8.33% | −0.21pp | #47 |
| 2012 | 8.54% | −0.36pp | #57 |
| 2011 | 8.90% | −0.39pp | #54 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ecuador matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ecuador's youth unemployment was 8.16% in 2025. Ranked 49th globally. This represents a 4.8% decrease from the previous year.
Ecuador's youth unemployment peaked at 11.07% in 2020.
The lowest youth unemployment in Ecuador was 7.02% in 2007.
Ecuador ranks 49th globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ecuador's youth unemployment is projected to reach 7.89% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Ecuador in 2025 was 8.16%. This ranks 49th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ecuador_youth-unemployment,
title = {Ecuador Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ecuador/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}