Johannesburg - Among South Africans aged between 15 and 24, 51% are unemployed, an SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) survey has found.
This was more than double the national unemployment rate of 25%, according to the study released on Monday.
The survey found that youth unemployment varied "considerably" among race groups.
It was highest among young black women at 63%, and lowest among young Indian men at 15%.
Of all young blacks, 57% were unemployed, as were 47% of Coloured youth, 23% of Indian youth and 21% of white youth.
The data, which was sourced from Statistics South Africa's quarterly Labour Force Survey, showed that the unemployment rate declined significantly in higher age groups to 29% for those aged 25 to 34, 17% for 35 to 44-year-olds, 12% for 45 to 54-year-olds, and 8% for 55 to 64-year-olds.
Unemployment was lowest among white women aged between 55 and 64 at 1.5%.
Lucy Holborn, of the institute's research department, said the 1.4 million young people officially counted as unemployed did not include those in full-time education.