Timor-Leste Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Timor-Leste's youth unemployment was 3.72% in 2025, ranked 14th globally. This represents a 15.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Timor-Leste's youth unemployment stood at 3.72% in 2025, a rise of +0.50pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 2.99% by 2026. Timor-Leste ranked 14th globally.
Timor‑Leste’s youth unemployment rate has fallen sharply over the 35‑year series, moving from a high of 9.54 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 13.06 % in 2016 before reaching a trough of 3.20 % in 2023 and registering 3.72 % in 2025, placing the country 14th lowest worldwide. The post‑peak decline coincides with expanded vocational training programmes and increased private‑sector participation in agriculture and tourism, which have absorbed a larger share of the 15‑ to 24‑year‑old labour force. By comparison, peer nations such as Senegal (3.62 %) and Sierra Leone (3.72 %) exhibit similar low youth unemployment levels, reflecting broader regional improvements in entry‑level job creation. Continued investment in digital skills and infrastructure, coupled with macro‑economic stability, will be critical to sustaining the downward trajectory and preventing a reversal of the gains achieved since the 2016 peak.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 2.56% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 2.77% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 2.99% | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.72% | +0.50pp | #14 |
| 2024 | 3.22% | +0.02pp | #12 |
| 2023 | 3.20% | −0.01pp | #12 |
| 2022 | 3.21% | −1.58pp | #14 |
| 2021 | 4.79% | −2.00pp | #22 |
| 2020 | 6.79% | −1.18pp | #30 |
| 2019 | 7.97% | −1.81pp | #48 |
| 2018 | 9.78% | −1.72pp | #71 |
| 2017 | 11.49% | −1.57pp | #81 |
| 2016 | 13.07% | +4.50pp | #89 |
| 2015 | 8.57% | −0.27pp | #50 |
| 2014 | 8.84% | −0.24pp | #52 |
| 2013 | 9.08% | −0.11pp | #57 |
| 2012 | 9.20% | −0.09pp | #60 |
| 2011 | 9.29% | −0.06pp | #60 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Timor-Leste 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
Timor-Leste's youth unemployment was 3.72% in 2025. Ranked 14th globally. This represents a 15.4% increase from the previous year.
Timor-Leste's youth unemployment peaked at 13.07% in 2016.
The lowest youth unemployment in Timor-Leste was 3.20% in 2023.
Timor-Leste ranks 14th globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Timor-Leste's youth unemployment is projected to reach 2.99% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Timor-Leste in 2025 was 3.72%. This ranks 14th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_timor-leste_youth-unemployment,
title = {Timor-Leste Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/timor-leste/youth-unemployment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}