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

Ethiopia: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 2.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
2.9%
World rank
136th
of 181 countries
All-time high
3.0%
in 1994
All-time low
1.0%
in 1984
Years of data
6
1984–2021

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

11.522.531984200220211984: 11994: 31999: 2.72005: 1.82013: 1.72021: 2.9

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

Analysis

Ethiopia recorded 2.9% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2021.

The figure is up 77.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ethiopia peaked at 3.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1984.

Ethiopia ranks 136th of 181 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Ethiopia, 1984 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1984 1.0%
1994 3.0% +200.0%
1999 2.7% -9.3%
2005 1.8% -33.4%
2013 1.7% -8.9%
2021 2.9% +77.6%

Ethiopia compared with similar countries

  • Ethiopia's 2.9% is below the median for low income countries, which is 5.4%, 55% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
  • Ethiopia's 2.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.4%, 66% of the median. (32 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1
1990s 2.9% 2.7% 3.0% 2
2000s 1.8% 1.8% 1.8% 1
2010s 1.7% 1.7% 1.7% 1
2020s 2.9% 2.9% 2.9% 1

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 133 Mali 3.0% compare
  2. 134 Sri Lanka 3.0% compare
  3. 135 Madagascar 2.9% compare
  4. 137 San Marino 2.9% compare
  5. 138 Macau, China 2.9% compare
  6. 139 Uganda 2.9% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More work & labour data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ethiopia?
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ethiopia was 2.9% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 1994.
What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1984.
How does Ethiopia rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
Ethiopia ranks 136th out of 181 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 77.6%. 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, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-national-estimate/ethiopia/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-national-estimate/ethiopia/">Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ethiopia</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, male (% of male 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, 5,415 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.