Employment rate in Eritrea
Eritrea: Employment rate was 73.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
73.7%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
15th
of 186 countries
All-time high
76.8%
in 1991
All-time low
72.6%
in 2020
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate in Eritrea, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Eritrea is 73.7%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Eritrea peaked at 76.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 72.6%, in 2020.
That places Eritrea 15th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Employment rate in Eritrea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 76.8% | — |
| 1992 | 76.7% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 76.5% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 76.3% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 76.1% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 76.0% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 76.1% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 76.2% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 76.2% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 76.2% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 76.0% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 75.8% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 75.6% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 75.5% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 75.4% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 75.5% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 75.5% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 75.4% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 75.2% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 75.0% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 74.9% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 74.8% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 74.9% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 74.6% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 74.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 74.5% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 74.4% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 74.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 73.8% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 72.6% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 72.9% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 73.6% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 73.7% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 73.7% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 73.7% | -0.0% |
Eritrea compared with similar countries
- Eritrea's 73.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 64.3%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Eritrea's 73.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 58.8%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.3% | 76.0% | 76.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 75.6% | 75.2% | 76.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.6% | 73.8% | 75.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.4% | 72.6% | 73.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eritrea
More work & labour data for Eritrea
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.291 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0037 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,776 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 3,830 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,254 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 4,190 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 8,444 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Eritrea?
- Employment rate in Eritrea was 73.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Eritrea?
- The highest recorded value was 76.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Eritrea?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.6% in 2020.
- How does Eritrea rank for employment rate?
- Eritrea ranks 15th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Eritrea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Eritrea data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.