Labor force participation rate by age in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Labor force participation rate by age was 54.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Ethiopia, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Ethiopia stood at 54.0%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Ethiopia peaked at 76.0% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 54.0%, in 2024.
Ethiopia ranks 35th of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.7% | 74.1% | 75.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.6% | 75.2% | 76.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.1% | 58.6% | 75.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.5% | 54.0% | 56.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More work & labour data for Ethiopia
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 78.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 74.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 58.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 69.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 60.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Ethiopia?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Ethiopia was 54.0% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 76.0% in 2001.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.0% in 2024.
- How does Ethiopia rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Ethiopia ranks 35th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).