Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 5.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ethiopia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 5.4% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and up 40.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ethiopia peaked at 6.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2012.
Ethiopia ranks 159th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.7% | — |
| 1992 | 4.8% | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 4.7% | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 4.5% | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 4.5% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 4.7% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 4.8% | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 5.2% | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 5.4% | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 5.1% | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 4.7% | -8.7% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 4.0% | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | -9.5% |
| 2006 | 3.5% | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 3.5% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 3.5% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 3.4% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 3.4% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 3.8% | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 4.0% | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 6.4% | +33.8% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | -12.7% |
| 2023 | 5.5% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 5.4% | -1.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 5.4% is below the median for low income countries, which is 7.8%, 68% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 5.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.8%, 61% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.8% | 4.5% | 5.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | 3.5% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 3.4% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.7% | 5.4% | 6.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ethiopia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Ethiopia was 5.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2012.
- How does Ethiopia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Ethiopia ranks 159th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.