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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 68.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 78.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 74.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 58.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 69.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 60.3% (2025)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.