Rising NEET Rates And The Countries Where Gen Z Is Being Left Behind

The acronym NEET refers to young people “not in education, employment or training.” While the term NEET has come to be associated with modern dropout culture and feelings of discouragement common amongst Gen Z, NEET cohorts also encompass young people who are actively looking for employment and educational opportunities, and can reflect broad systemic economic issues.

The share of young people not in education, employment or training crested globally in 2020, when pandemic lockdowns shuttered schools, slowed hiring, and forced millions of young people out of both classrooms and workplaces. While the NEET rate has since fallen well below pre-COVID levels, dozens of countries have reported net increases in the share of unengaged young people over the past five years.

The countries where NEET rates are rising the most represent a diverse mix of economic structures and challenges. In conflict-torn nations like Afghanistan, Syria, and Sudan, violence and instability have forced young people out of schools and jobs, driving NEET rates to some of the highest in the world. In middle-income economies such as Peru, Pakistan, and the Dominican Republic, weak labor markets and slowing growth have left youth unable to transition into stable work. Many wealthier, advanced economies — like Austria, Luxembourg, and the United States — have also seen NEET rates go up, likely as a result of rising housing costs, skills mismatches, and policy gaps that exclude Gen Z from stable employment and educational opportunities. A closer look at the data reveals the countries where NEET rates are rising the fastest.

To determine the countries where NEET rates are rising the fastest, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed historical data on youth unemployment and education from the International Labour Organization. Countries were ranked based on the change in the percentage of youth ages 15 to 24 not in education, employment or training from 2019 to 2024. Supplemental data on unemployment among advanced degree holders are also from the ILO. Data on GDP is from the World Bank.

44. China

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +0.8 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 11.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 10.8%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 3.8%
• Gross domestic product: $18.7 trillion ($13,303 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Guangzhou, Shanghai, Jieyang, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Beijing, Wuhan, Suzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang

43. Israel

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +0.8 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 15.1%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 14.3%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 2.4%
• Gross domestic product: $540.4 billion ($54,177 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beer Sheva, Ashdod, Nazareth, Netanya, Modi’In Illit, Ashkelon, Qiryat Ata, Eilat

42. United States

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +0.8 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 11.2%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 10.4%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 2.4%
• Gross domestic product: $29.2 trillion ($85,810 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Dallas, San Jose, San Diego, Houston, Washington D.C.

41. Sao Tome and Principe

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +0.8 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 49.8%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 49.0%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 0.0%
• Gross domestic product: $764.3 million ($3,245 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Sío Tomé, Santo António, Passadeira

40. Indonesia

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +0.8 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 21.4%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 20.5%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 3.6%
• Gross domestic product: $1.4 trillion ($4,925 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Bandung, Medan, Semarang, Tegal, Palembang, Tasikmalaya, Pati

39. Solomon Islands

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +0.9 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 8.2%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 7.3%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 0.5%
• Gross domestic product: $1.8 billion ($2,149 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Honiara, Auki

38. Dominican Republic

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +0.9 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 25.7%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 24.7%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 5.7%
• Gross domestic product: $124.3 billion ($10,876 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Santo Domingo, Santiago De Los Caballeros, San Cristóbal, La Vega, Puerto Plata, La Romana, Las Matas De Santa Cruz, San Juan De La Maguana, San Francisco De Macoris, Bonao

37. Cambodia

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.0 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 12.4%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 11.4%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 1.0%
• Gross domestic product: $46.4 billion ($2,628 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Phnom Penh, Battambang, Sisophon, Kampong Chhnang, Neak Loeung, Kampot, Khemara Phoumin, Pursat, Sihanoukville, Siem Reap

36. Ecuador

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.1 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 18.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 17.5%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 5.5%
• Gross domestic product: $124.7 billion ($6,875 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Guayaquil, Quito, Cuenca, Manta, Machala, Ambato, City Of Loja, Portoviejo, Riobamba, Quevedo

35. Equatorial Guinea

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.2 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 24.5%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 23.3%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 0.0%
• Gross domestic product: $12.8 billion ($6,745 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Bata, Malabo, Niefang, Ebebiyí­n, Aconibe, Micomeseng, Añisoc, Nsork, Moca, Mongomo

34. Samoa

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.3 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 30.3%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 29.0%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 3.2%
• Gross domestic product: $1.1 billion ($4,899 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Apia, Puipa’A, Faleasiu, Vaiusu

33. Syria

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.4 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 38.8%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 37.4%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 0.0%
• Gross domestic product: $20.0 billion ($847 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Latakia, Hama, Qamishli, Ar Raqqah, Al-Hasakah, Tartus, Manbij

32. Myanmar

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.5 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 15.2%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 13.8%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 0.8%
• Gross domestic product: $74.1 billion ($1,359 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Naypyidaw, Tatkon, Lewe, Ywa Htauk Village, Naypyidaw, Set Yon Su

31. South Africa

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.5 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 33.9%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 32.5%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 15.1%
• Gross domestic product: $400.3 billion ($6,253 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Evaton, Klipgat, Phuthaditjhaba, Bloemfontein, Edendale

30. Lebanon

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.5 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 25.0%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 23.5%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 14.5%
• Gross domestic product: $20.1 billion ($3,478 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Beirut, Tripoli, Saida, Zouk Bhanine, Zahlé, Memneh, Bezbina, Tyre, Halba, Baalbek

29. Democratic Republic of Congo

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.6 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 31.5%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 29.9%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 5.5%
• Gross domestic product: $70.7 billion ($647 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Kinshasa, Mbuji-Mayi, Beni, Bukavu, Boma, Kikwit, Goma, Matadi, Mongbwalu, Bunia

28. Bangladesh

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.7 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 30.0%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 28.3%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 11.8%
• Gross domestic product: $450.1 billion ($2,593 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Dhaka, Comilla, Chattogram, Khulna, Sirajganj, Brahmanbaria, Noakhali, Bogura, Tangail, Rangpur

27. Estonia

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.7 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 9.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 7.9%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 3.6%
• Gross domestic product: $42.8 billion ($31,170 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Kohtla-Järve, Tallinn, Narva, Tartu, Pärnu, Sillamäe, Valga, Viljandi, Haapsalu, Paide

26. Lithuania

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.8 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 10.4%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 8.6%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 3.8%
• Gross domestic product: $84.9 billion ($29,386 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Kaunas, Vilnius, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, Šiauliai, Alytus, Marijampolė, Telšiai, Utena, Visaginas

25. Timor-Leste

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.8 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 29.1%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 27.3%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 2.3%
• Gross domestic product: $1.9 billion ($1,343 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Dili, Lospalos, Maubisse, Likisá, Same, Maliana, Racolo, Baucau, Pante Macassar, Gleno

24. Ethiopia

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.8 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 17.4%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 15.6%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 10.6%
• Gross domestic product: $126.8 billion ($1,011 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, Merawi, Kombolcha, Mota, Dessie, Jijiga, Hawassa, Kobo

23. Cameroon

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.8 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 23.1%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 21.3%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 18.8%
• Gross domestic product: $51.3 billion ($1,762 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Yaounde, Douala, Maroua, Garoua, Mokolo, Bafoussam, Bamenda, Mbouda, Dschang, Yagoua

22. Germany

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.8 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 7.4%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 5.6%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 2.1%
• Gross domestic product: $4.7 trillion ($55,800 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Dortmund, Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt Am Main, Wuppertal, Dusseldorf, Hanover

21. Romania

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.9 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 16.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 14.7%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 1.6%
• Gross domestic product: $382.8 billion ($20,072 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Bucharest, Galați, Craiova, Iași, Cluj-Napoca, Constanța, Timișoara, Brasov, Ploiești

20. South Sudan

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +1.9 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 33.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 31.7%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 6.4%
• Gross domestic product: $12.0 billion ($1,080 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Malualkon, Aweil, Wau, Juba, Rumbek, Kuajok, Bor, Pieri, Alek, Yirol

19. Trinidad and Tobago

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +2.0 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 16.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 14.6%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 2.6%
• Gross domestic product: $26.4 billion ($19,315 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Port Of Spain, San Fernando, Arima, Debe, Chaguanas, Couva, Sangre Grande, Scarborough, Point Fortin, Princes Town

18. Austria

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +2.1 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 13.1%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 11.0%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 3.6%
• Gross domestic product: $521.6 billion ($56,833 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Vienna, Linz, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Wels, Steyr, Bregenz, Villach

17. Mauritius

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +2.3 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 20.4%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 18.1%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 5.5%
• Gross domestic product: $15.0 billion ($11,872 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Port Louis, Rose Belle, Goodlands, Triolet, Mahébourg, Moka, Central Flacq, Chamouny, Bon Accueil, Grand Baie

16. Saudi Arabia

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +2.3 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 17.9%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 15.6%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 5.9%
• Gross domestic product: $1.2 trillion ($35,057 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Mecca, Medina, Hofuf, Khamis Mushait, Tabuk, At Taif, Al Khobar

15. Burundi

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +2.6 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 12.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 10.0%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 9.2%
• Gross domestic product: $2.2 billion ($154 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Rurama, Bujumbura, Kibaya, Buhiga, Nyamurenza, Makamba, Bubanza, Musigati, Marangara, Mutoyi

14. Montenegro

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +2.6 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 20.0%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 17.3%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 11.8%
• Gross domestic product: $8.1 billion ($12,935 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Bijelo Polje, Podgorica, Niksic, Pljevlja, Berane, Bar, Herceg Novi, Rožaje, Cetinje, Ulcinj

13. Ghana

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +2.7 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 27.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 24.9%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 5.1%
• Gross domestic product: $82.8 billion ($2,406 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Accra, Kumasi, Obuasi, Tamale, Somanya, Bawku, Takoradi, Bolgatanga, Sunyani, Suhum

12. Togo

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +2.9 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 13.3%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 10.4%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 7.1%
• Gross domestic product: $9.9 billion ($1,043 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Lomé, Kara, Sokodé, Bassar, Niamtougou, Kpalimé, Blitta-Gare, Atakpamé, Dapaong, Sansanné-Mango

11. Sudan

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +3.1 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 47.0%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 43.8%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 22.4%
• Gross domestic product: $49.9 billion ($989 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Khartoum, Al Managil, Geneina, Wad MadanÄ«, Al-Ubayyid, Kosti, Al-Qadarif, Umm Ruwaba, Nyala, Dilling

10. Costa Rica

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +3.2 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 20.8%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 17.6%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 5.2%
• Gross domestic product: $95.4 billion ($18,587 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: San José, Cartago, Limón, Barranca, San Isidro De El General, Siquirres, San Ramón, Turrialba, Ciudad Quesada, Grecia

9. Honduras

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +3.5 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 30.3%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 26.8%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 8.5%
• Gross domestic product: $37.1 billion ($3,426 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Choluteca, El Progreso, La Ceiba, Puerto Cortés, Danli, Comayagua, Pespire

8. Luxembourg

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +4.0 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 8.8%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 4.8%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 3.9%
• Gross domestic product: $93.2 billion ($137,517 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Luxembourg, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Differdange, Ettelbruck, Aubange, Dudelange, Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Huncherange, Prettingen

7. Saint Lucia

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +4.1 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 34.4%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 30.3%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 6.3%
• Gross domestic product: $2.5 billion ($14,182 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Castries, Laborie, Micoud, Monkey Town, Dennery, Gros Islet, Soufriere

6. Pakistan

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +4.3 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 34.0%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 29.7%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 16.1%
• Gross domestic product: $373.1 billion ($1,485 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Multan, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Quetta

5. Botswana

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +5.6 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 37.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 32.0%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 15.8%
• Gross domestic product: $19.4 billion ($7,695 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Gaborone, Lobatse, Kanye, Mahalapye, Francistown, Selebi Phikwe, Palapye, Mmopane, Maun

4. Peru

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +6.7 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 23.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 16.9%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 5.3%
• Gross domestic product: $289.2 billion ($8,452 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Lima, Arequipa, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Chimbote, Cusco, Huancayo, Piura, Pucallpa, Sullana

3. The Gambia

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +8.3 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 39.7%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 31.4%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 10.7%
• Gross domestic product: $2.5 billion ($909 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Serrekunda, Banjul, Bansang, Farafenni, Basse Santa Su, Brikama, Barra, Soma, Kerr Cosa, Dankunku

2. Bhutan

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +9.2 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 19.6%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 10.4%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 9.3%
• Gross domestic product: $3.0 billion ($3,839 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Nk Darranga, Pasakha, Chang Bangdu, Samtse

1. Afghanistan

• Change in NEET rate, 2019 to 2024: +12.7 percentage points
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2024: 55.4%
• Share of youth not in education, employment or training, 2019: 42.6%
• Unemployment among advanced degree holders: 9.8%
• Gross domestic product: $17.2 billion ($414 per capita)
• Largest urban areas: Kabul, Ghazni, Mazar I Sharif, Kandahar, Herat, Chaman, Kunduz

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