Moldova Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Moldova's youth unemployment was 4.20% in 2025, ranked 22nd globally. This represents a 6.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Moldova's youth unemployment stood at 4.20% in 2025, a decline of +0.30pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 5.40% by 2026. Moldova ranked 22nd globally.
Moldova’s youth unemployment rate stood at 4.20 % in 2025, placing it 22nd in the global ranking and closely matching Uganda’s 4.18 % and Cuba’s 4.28 % for the same year. The indicator has traversed a 35‑year span from 3.64 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 20.90 % in 1999, a period marked by the post‑Soviet economic shock that drove many young people out of the labour market. A sustained decline followed, reaching a historic trough of 1.80 % in 2021 as reforms and EU‑aligned programmes expanded entry‑level opportunities. Since then, the rate has risen modestly, reflecting structural adjustments and demographic shifts, yet it remains well below the 1990s high. Continued investment in vocational training and alignment of education with market needs could further depress youth unemployment, steering the trajectory toward lower levels in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 6.68% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 6.04% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 5.40% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.20% | −0.30pp | #22 |
| 2024 | 4.50% | +0.47pp | #23 |
| 2023 | 4.03% | +1.13pp | #19 |
| 2022 | 2.91% | +1.11pp | #10 |
| 2021 | 1.80% | −2.26pp | #6 |
| 2020 | 4.05% | +0.80pp | #13 |
| 2019 | 3.26% | +0.05pp | #13 |
| 2018 | 3.21% | −0.72pp | #12 |
| 2017 | 3.93% | +0.91pp | #15 |
| 2016 | 3.02% | −0.32pp | #11 |
| 2015 | 3.34% | +1.04pp | #12 |
| 2014 | 2.30% | −0.66pp | #9 |
| 2013 | 2.95% | −0.50pp | #14 |
| 2012 | 3.45% | −1.41pp | #14 |
| 2011 | 4.87% | −0.82pp | #21 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Moldova matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Moldova's youth unemployment was 4.20% in 2025. Ranked 22nd globally. This represents a 6.7% decrease from the previous year.
Moldova's youth unemployment peaked at 20.90% in 1999.
The lowest youth unemployment in Moldova was 1.80% in 2021.
Moldova ranks 22nd globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Moldova's youth unemployment is projected to reach 5.40% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Moldova in 2025 was 4.20%. This ranks 22nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_moldova_youth-unemployment,
title = {Moldova Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/moldova/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}