Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 74.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Ethiopia, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Ethiopia stood at 74.3%.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Ethiopia peaked at 84.1% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 72.7%, in 2021.
That places Ethiopia 114th out of 186 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.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 84.0% | — |
| 1991 | 84.0% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 84.0% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 83.9% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 83.8% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 83.7% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 83.5% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 83.4% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 83.2% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 83.1% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 83.0% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 83.0% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 83.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 83.0% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 83.1% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 83.2% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 83.3% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 83.4% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 83.5% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 83.6% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 83.7% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 83.8% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 83.9% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 84.1% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 82.9% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 81.7% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 80.4% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 79.1% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 77.7% | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 76.3% | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 74.4% | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 72.7% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 73.3% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 73.6% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 74.2% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 74.3% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 83.6% | 83.1% | 84.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 83.2% | 83.0% | 83.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.4% | 76.3% | 84.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.8% | 72.7% | 74.4% | 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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Ethiopia?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Ethiopia was 74.3% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 84.1% in 2013.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.7% in 2021.
- How does Ethiopia rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Ethiopia ranks 114th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).