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.
Labor force participation rate by age in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 74.2% | — |
| 1991 | 74.1% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 74.1% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 74.3% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 74.5% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 74.7% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 74.9% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 75.2% | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 75.5% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 75.7% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 75.9% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 76.0% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 75.9% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 75.8% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 75.7% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 75.5% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 75.5% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 75.4% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 75.3% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 75.2% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 75.1% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 75.1% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 75.0% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 74.9% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 72.0% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 69.2% | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 66.4% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 63.7% | -4.1% |
| 2018 | 61.1% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 58.6% | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 56.0% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 54.2% | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 54.2% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 54.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 54.0% | -0.2% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 54.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 52.0%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 54.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).