Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 5.3% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
5.3%
World rank
109th
of 181 countries
All-time high
5.3%
in 2021
All-time low
1.4%
in 1984
Years of data
6
1984–2021

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Ethiopia, 1984–2021

123451984200220211984: 1.41994: 3.31999: 5.12005: 3.32013: 2.92021: 5.3

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Ethiopia is 5.3%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 79.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Ethiopia peaked at 5.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1984.

That places Ethiopia 109th out of 181 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Ethiopia, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) in Ethiopia, 1984 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1984 1.4%
1994 3.3% +135.7%
1999 5.1% +53.4%
2005 3.3% -35.8%
2013 2.9% -9.5%
2021 5.3% +79.2%

Ethiopia compared with similar countries

  • Ethiopia's 5.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 5.7%, 93% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
  • Ethiopia's 5.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.5%, 81% of the median. (32 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1
1990s 4.2% 3.3% 5.1% 2
2000s 3.3% 3.3% 3.3% 1
2010s 2.9% 2.9% 2.9% 1
2020s 5.3% 5.3% 5.3% 1

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 106 Austria 5.4% compare
  2. 107 Barbados 5.4% compare
  3. 108 Nicaragua 5.3% compare
  4. 110 Naoero 5.2% compare
  5. 111 Cayman Islands 5.2% compare
  6. 112 Peru 5.0% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More work & labour data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Ethiopia?
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Ethiopia was 5.3% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 5.3% in 2021.
What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1984.
How does Ethiopia rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
Ethiopia ranks 109th out of 181 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 79.2%. 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 Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-female-percent-of-female-labor-force-national-estimate/ethiopia/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
205 places, 5,402 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.