Labor force, total in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Labor force, total was 56.78 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Ethiopia, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Ethiopia stood at 56.78 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Ethiopia peaked at 56.78 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 20.95 million, in 1990.
That places Ethiopia 13th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 20.95 million | — |
| 1991 | 21.89 million | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 22.82 million | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 23.58 million | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 24.34 million | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 25.12 million | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 25.87 million | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 26.61 million | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 27.35 million | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 28.11 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 28.91 million | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 29.76 million | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 30.69 million | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 31.68 million | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 32.71 million | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 33.79 million | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 34.89 million | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 36.08 million | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 37.33 million | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 38.66 million | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 40.08 million | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 41.59 million | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 43.16 million | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 44.77 million | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 45.54 million | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 46.29 million | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 47.02 million | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 47.74 million | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 48.39 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 48.99 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 49.14 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 49.96 million | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 51.76 million | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 53.42 million | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 55.10 million | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 56.78 million | +3.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 56.78 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 8.16 million, 7.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 56.78 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 9.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.66 million | 20.95 million | 28.11 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.45 million | 28.91 million | 38.66 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.36 million | 40.08 million | 48.99 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.69 million | 49.14 million | 56.78 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More education data for Ethiopia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 272,545 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 900,151 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.16 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.03 million (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.93 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1206 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Ethiopia?
- Labor force, total in Ethiopia was 56.78 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 56.78 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.95 million in 1990.
- How does Ethiopia rank for labor force, total?
- Ethiopia ranks 13th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.