Labor force participation rate in Eritrea
Eritrea: Labor force participation rate was 78.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
78.3%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
13th
of 186 countries
All-time high
81.0%
in 1990
All-time low
77.5%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Eritrea, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Eritrea stood at 78.3%.
That represents a change of down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Eritrea peaked at 81.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 77.5%, in 2020.
That places Eritrea 13th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate in Eritrea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 81.0% | — |
| 1991 | 81.0% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 81.0% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 80.8% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 80.7% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 80.4% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 80.2% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 80.5% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 80.6% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 80.7% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 80.8% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 80.6% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 80.4% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 80.2% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 80.0% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 80.0% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 80.0% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 80.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 80.0% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 79.8% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 79.7% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 79.5% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 79.4% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 79.3% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 79.1% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 79.2% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 79.1% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 79.0% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 78.7% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 78.4% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 77.5% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 77.9% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 78.3% | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 78.3% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 78.3% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 78.3% | +0.0% |
Eritrea compared with similar countries
- Eritrea's 78.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 67.0%, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Eritrea's 78.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.7% | 80.2% | 81.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.2% | 79.8% | 80.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 79.1% | 78.4% | 79.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.1% | 77.5% | 78.3% | 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 labor force participation rate in Eritrea?
- Labor force participation rate in Eritrea was 78.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Eritrea?
- The highest recorded value was 81.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Eritrea?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.5% in 2020.
- How does Eritrea rank for labor force participation rate?
- Eritrea ranks 13th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Eritrea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. 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 Labor force participation 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 over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).