Unemployment rate in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Unemployment rate was 3.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
3.3%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
134th
of 186 countries
All-time high
4.0%
in 2020
All-time low
2.3%
in 2013
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in Ethiopia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Ethiopia stood at 3.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 36.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Ethiopia peaked at 4.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2013.
Ethiopia ranks 134th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Unemployment rate in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.3% | — |
| 1992 | 3.4% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 3.3% | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 3.1% | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 3.5% | +7.9% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 3.2% | -9.7% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | -10.1% |
| 2006 | 2.3% | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2.3% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 2.3% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.3% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 2.3% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | +36.5% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 3.4% | -14.0% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 3.4% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 3.3% | -1.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 3.3% is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.4%, 75% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 3.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 61% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.3% | 3.0% | 3.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.3% | 4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 131 Burkina Faso 3.5% compare
- 132 Belarus 3.4% compare
- 133 Trinidad and Tobago 3.3% compare
- 135 Ecuador 3.3% compare
- 136 El Salvador 3.3% compare
- 137 Jamaica 3.3% compare
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 unemployment rate in Ethiopia?
- Unemployment rate in Ethiopia was 3.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2013.
- How does Ethiopia rank for unemployment rate?
- Ethiopia ranks 134th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.