Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 7.0% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Ethiopia, 2000–2021
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 7.0% for public sector employment as a share of total employment in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 70.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Ethiopia peaked at 25.3% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2000.
Ethiopia ranks 72nd of 79 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.4% | — |
| 2003 | 22.9% | +575.5% |
| 2004 | 24.1% | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -82.4% |
| 2006 | 21.5% | +409.0% |
| 2009 | 25.3% | +17.5% |
| 2010 | 4.4% | -82.4% |
| 2011 | 23.6% | +430.9% |
| 2012 | 22.4% | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 4.4% | -80.5% |
| 2014 | 22.1% | +406.8% |
| 2015 | 23.4% | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 23.7% | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 7.0% | -70.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.9% | 3.4% | 25.3% | 6 |
| 2010s | 17.7% | 4.4% | 23.7% | 7 |
| 2020s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 1 |
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 public sector employment as a share of total employment in Ethiopia?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Ethiopia was 7.0% in 2021, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.3% in 2009.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2000.
- How does Ethiopia rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- Ethiopia ranks 72nd out of 79 countries with data for 2021.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 70.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.