Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 58.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ethiopia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 58.5% for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ethiopia peaked at 74.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 57.6%, in 2021.
That places Ethiopia 58th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 74.9% | — |
| 1991 | 74.9% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 74.9% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 74.8% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 74.8% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 74.8% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 74.7% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 74.7% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 74.6% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 74.6% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 74.6% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 74.6% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 74.5% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 74.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 74.6% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 74.6% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 74.5% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 74.5% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 74.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 74.4% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 74.4% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 74.3% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 74.3% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 74.3% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 72.2% | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 70.2% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 68.1% | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 66.1% | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 64.1% | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 62.0% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 59.3% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 57.6% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 58.0% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 58.1% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 58.4% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 58.5% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.8% | 74.6% | 74.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 74.5% | 74.4% | 74.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.0% | 62.0% | 74.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.3% | 57.6% | 59.3% | 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ethiopia?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ethiopia was 58.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 74.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.6% in 2021.
- How does Ethiopia rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Ethiopia ranks 58th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.