Ethiopia — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Ethiopia, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Ethiopia was 68.46% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 82.08% in 2001. The lowest was 68.25% in 2021 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.51% per year.
Ethiopia ranks 33 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 18%. The median for Sub-Saharan Africa is 64.31%, so Ethiopia sits above it. It peaked in 2001 and has fallen 17% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 12%. Within Sub-Saharan Africa it ranks 16 of 47 economies; Congo, Rep. (67.83%) is just below it. That is 4% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 9th of 187 in 1990 → 10th of 187 in 2000 → 8th of 187 in 2010 → 26th of 187 in 2020 → 32nd of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 68.46% | -0.0 pp |
| 2024 | 68.47% | +0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 68.46% | -0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 68.47% | +0.2 pp |
| 2021 | 68.25% | -1.1 pp |
| 2020 | 69.39% | -2.2 pp |
| 2019 | 71.57% | -1.6 pp |
| 2018 | 73.16% | -1.6 pp |
| 2017 | 74.76% | -1.6 pp |
| 2016 | 76.37% | -1.6 pp |
| 2015 | 77.98% | -1.6 pp |
| 2014 | 79.61% | -1.6 pp |
| 2013 | 81.24% | -0.1 pp |
| 2012 | 81.34% | -0.1 pp |
| 2011 | 81.44% | -0.1 pp |
| 2010 | 81.53% | -0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 81.63% | -0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 81.73% | -0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 81.83% | -0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 81.92% | -0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 82.02% | -0.0 pp |
| 2004 | 82.05% | -0.0 pp |
| 2003 | 82.07% | -0.0 pp |
| 2002 | 82.08% | -0.0 pp |
| 2001 | 82.09% | +0.0 pp |
| 2000 | 82.07% | +0.0 pp |
| 1999 | 82.05% | +0.0 pp |
| 1998 | 82.01% | +0.0 pp |
| 1997 | 81.97% | +0.0 pp |
| 1996 | 81.93% | +0.0 pp |
| 1995 | 81.89% | +0.0 pp |
| 1994 | 81.86% | +0.0 pp |
| 1993 | 81.83% | +0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 81.8% | +0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 81.8% | -0.0 pp |
| 1990 | 81.81% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Ethiopia’s Labor participation in 1991?
81.8% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Ethiopia’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -16.3% in total — about 0.5% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 68.46%; 2024: 68.47%; 2023: 68.46%; 2022: 68.47%; 2021: 68.25%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.