Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate was 24.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
24.1%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
223rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
24.1%
in 2025
All-time low
5.9%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Ethiopia, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 24.1% for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Ethiopia peaked at 24.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 1950.
Ethiopia ranks 223rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.9% | — |
| 1951 | 6.0% | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 6.1% | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 6.3% | +1.8% |
| 1954 | 6.4% | +1.8% |
| 1955 | 6.5% | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 6.6% | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 6.7% | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 6.8% | +1.9% |
| 1959 | 7.0% | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 7.1% | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 7.2% | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 7.4% | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 7.5% | +1.9% |
| 1964 | 7.7% | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 7.8% | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 8.0% | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 8.1% | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 8.3% | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 8.4% | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 8.6% | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 8.7% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 8.9% | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 9.1% | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 9.2% | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 9.4% | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 9.6% | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 9.8% | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 10.0% | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 10.2% | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 10.4% | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 10.6% | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 10.8% | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 11.0% | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 11.2% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 11.4% | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 11.7% | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 11.9% | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 12.2% | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 12.5% | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 12.8% | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 13.0% | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 13.3% | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 13.5% | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 13.7% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 13.9% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 14.1% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 14.3% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 14.5% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 14.7% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 14.9% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 15.1% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 15.5% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 15.8% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 16.0% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 16.2% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 16.1% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 17.2% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 17.5% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 17.9% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 18.2% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 18.6% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 19.0% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 19.5% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 19.9% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 20.3% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 20.8% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 21.2% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 21.6% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 22.1% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 22.7% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 23.1% | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 23.6% | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 24.1% | +2.1% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 24.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 34.5%, 70% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 24.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 54% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.4% | 5.9% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.7% | 7.1% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.3% | 8.6% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.4% | 10.4% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.8% | 12.8% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.9% | 14.9% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.3% | 17.5% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.9% | 21.6% | 24.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 220 Afghanistan 25.9% compare
- 221 Burundi 25.7% compare
- 222 Antigua and Barbuda 24.3% compare
- 224 Micronesia (country) 22.5% compare
- 225 Vanuatu 22.3% compare
- 226 South Sudan 21.7% 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 urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Ethiopia?
- Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Ethiopia was 24.1% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 24.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 1950.
- How does Ethiopia rank for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate?
- Ethiopia ranks 223rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population vs. female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.