Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 72.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
72.7%
World rank
128th
of 196 countries
All-time high
84.1%
in 2013
All-time low
38.8%
in 1981
Years of data
7
1981–2021

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Ethiopia, 1981–2021

0204060801981200120211981: 38.81987: 67.61994: 74.31999: 68.32005: 83.22013: 84.12021: 72.7

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2021, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Ethiopia stood at 72.7%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Ethiopia peaked at 84.1% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 38.8%, in 1981.

That places Ethiopia 128th out of 196 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate) in Ethiopia, 1981 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1981 38.8%
1987 67.6% +74.3%
1994 74.3% +9.8%
1999 68.3% -8.0%
2005 83.2% +21.8%
2013 84.1% +1.0%
2021 72.7% -13.5%

Ethiopia compared with similar countries

  • Ethiopia's 72.7% is below the median for low income countries, which is 84.0%, 87% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
  • Ethiopia's 72.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 84.0%, 87% of the median. (41 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 53.2% 38.8% 67.6% 2
1990s 71.3% 68.3% 74.3% 2
2000s 83.2% 83.2% 83.2% 1
2010s 84.1% 84.1% 84.1% 1
2020s 72.7% 72.7% 72.7% 1

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 125 Haiti 73.3% compare
  2. 126 Brazil 73.1% compare
  3. 127 Gibraltar 73.0% compare
  4. 129 American Samoa 72.0% compare
  5. 130 Dominican Republic 71.1% compare
  6. 131 Italy 70.9% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Ethiopia?
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Ethiopia was 72.7% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 84.1% in 2013.
What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 38.8% in 1981.
How does Ethiopia rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
Ethiopia ranks 128th out of 196 countries with data for 2021.
Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/ratio-of-female-to-male-labor-force-participation-rate-percent-national-estimate/ethiopia/

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About this data

Indicator
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,351 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate is the proportion of female labor force participation relative to male labor force participation. 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.