Employment rate in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Employment rate was 66.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
66.2%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
31st
of 186 countries
All-time high
80.0%
in 2006
All-time low
65.6%
in 2021
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate in Ethiopia, 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 Ethiopia is 66.2%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Ethiopia peaked at 80.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 65.6%, in 2021.
Ethiopia ranks 31st of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 79.1% | — |
| 1992 | 79.0% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 79.2% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 79.3% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 79.4% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 79.4% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 79.3% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 79.2% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 79.0% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 79.2% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 79.5% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 79.6% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 79.6% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 79.8% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 80.0% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 80.0% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 79.9% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 79.8% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 79.7% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 79.7% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 79.6% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 79.5% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 79.4% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 77.7% | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 76.1% | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 74.4% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 72.8% | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 71.1% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 69.5% | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 66.6% | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 65.6% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 66.2% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 66.1% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 66.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 66.2% | +0.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 66.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 64.3%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 66.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 58.8%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 79.2% | 79.0% | 79.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 79.7% | 79.2% | 80.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.0% | 69.5% | 79.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.1% | 65.6% | 66.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More work & labour data for Ethiopia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.4959 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.4604 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.1765 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.96 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 74,537 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 116,333 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 183,282 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 184,008 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 367,290 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Ethiopia?
- Employment rate in Ethiopia was 66.2% 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 80.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.6% in 2021.
- How does Ethiopia rank for employment rate?
- Ethiopia ranks 31st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.