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

Ethiopia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
3.9%
World rank
127th
of 187 countries
All-time high
3.9%
in 2021
All-time low
1.2%
in 1984
Years of data
6
1984–2021

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

12341984200220211984: 1.21994: 3.11999: 3.72005: 2.52013: 2.32021: 3.9

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia is 3.9%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

The figure is up 74.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia peaked at 3.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 1984.

That places Ethiopia 127th out of 187 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Ethiopia, 1984 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1984 1.2%
1994 3.1% +158.3%
1999 3.7% +19.8%
2005 2.5% -32.8%
2013 2.3% -9.9%
2021 3.9% +74.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1
1990s 3.4% 3.1% 3.7% 2
2000s 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 1
2010s 2.3% 2.3% 2.3% 1
2020s 3.9% 3.9% 3.9% 1

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

  1. 124 Faroe Islands 4.0% compare
  2. 125 Trinidad and Tobago 4.0% compare
  3. 126 Ghana 4.0% compare
  4. 128 Malaysia 3.9% compare
  5. 128 Netherlands 3.9% compare
  6. 128 Slovenia 3.9% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Ethiopia

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia?
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia was 3.9% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Ethiopia?
The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 2021.
What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Ethiopia?
The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 1984.
How does Ethiopia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Ethiopia ranks 127th out of 187 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Ethiopia?
Over the last ten years it is up 74.8%. 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, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/ethiopia/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 6,054 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.