Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
3.3%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
135th
of 187 countries
All-time high
4.0%
in 2020
All-time low
2.3%
in 2013
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 3.3% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 36.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia peaked at 4.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2013.
That places Ethiopia 135th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.3% | — |
| 1992 | 3.4% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 3.3% | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 3.1% | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 3.5% | +7.9% |
| 1999 | 3.7% | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 3.2% | -9.7% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 2.8% | -7.7% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | -10.1% |
| 2006 | 2.3% | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2.3% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 2.3% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.3% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 2.3% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | +36.5% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 3.4% | -14.0% |
| 2023 | 3.4% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 3.4% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 3.3% | -1.0% |
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
- 132 Burkina Faso 3.5% compare
- 133 Belarus 3.4% compare
- 134 Trinidad and Tobago 3.3% compare
- 136 Ecuador 3.3% compare
- 137 El Salvador 3.3% compare
- 138 Jamaica 3.3% compare
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 unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Ethiopia was 3.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2013.
- How does Ethiopia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Ethiopia ranks 135th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) 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 database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.