Photo: Original photograph taken by User:Voice of Clam , edited by jjron - adjusted levels, reduced highlights, sharpened. derivative work: Jjtkk · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Eritrea: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Eritrea is placed joint 117th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 73.66 (2025); Labour Income Share 35.89 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint117th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Eritrea on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
73.66
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Eritrea: 73.66. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 82.89 Madagascar
- Land neighbours
- Djibouti 23.49 · Ethiopia 66.19
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
5.978
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Eritrea: 5.978. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.922 Burundi
- Land neighbours
- Djibouti 26.02 · Ethiopia 3.323
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
47.89
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Eritrea: 47.89. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 14.88 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Djibouti 30.29 · Ethiopia 84.15
02Over time
Which way Eritrea is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
EritreaWorld median
Eritrea fell from 76.19 in 2000 to 73.66 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Eritrea World median 2025 73.664 57.720 2024 73.679 57.694 2023 73.718 58.158 2022 73.623 57.688 2021 72.892 56.066 2020 72.568 55.691 2019 73.832 57.871 2018 74.158 56.911 2017 74.411 56.738 2016 74.516 56.845 2015 74.649 56.788 2014 74.646 56.774 2013 74.856 56.229 2012 74.842 56.289 2011 74.901 56.297 2010 75.037 56.212 2009 75.219 56.255 2008 75.428 57.308 2007 75.464 56.933 2006 75.471 56.685 2005 75.416 56.129 2004 75.461 55.465 2003 75.582 55.630 2002 75.775 55.843 2001 75.992 56.018 2000 76.192 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
EritreaWorld median
Eritrea fell from 36.57 in 2004 to 35.89 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Eritrea World median 2025 35.892 46.230 2024 35.910 46.060 2023 35.921 45.900 2022 35.935 45.615 2021 35.363 45.433 2020 37.757 47.267 2019 36.343 46.277 2018 35.830 46.187 2017 37.131 46.467 2016 36.150 46.798 2015 37.732 46.876 2014 34.830 47.281 2013 37.173 46.887 2012 36.478 46.231 2011 36.102 45.679 2010 36.475 46.024 2009 36.387 47.071 2008 37.160 45.312 2007 36.536 45.246 2006 36.683 45.670 2005 36.494 46.265 2004 36.569 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
EritreaWorld median
Eritrea rose from 5.656 in 2000 to 5.978 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Eritrea World median 2025 5.978 5.08 2024 5.947 5.15 2023 5.909 5.21 2022 6.033 5.34 2021 6.489 6.04 2020 6.375 6.38 2019 5.812 5.36 2018 5.756 5.35 2017 5.804 5.59 2016 5.772 5.90 2015 5.751 6.41 2014 5.637 6.58 2013 5.624 6.71 2012 5.692 6.79 2011 5.801 6.90 2010 5.854 7.04 2009 5.757 6.67 2008 5.683 5.79 2007 5.719 6.00 2006 5.707 6.50 2005 5.721 7.09 2004 5.704 6.80 2003 5.790 6.95 2002 5.794 6.91 2001 5.740 6.96 2000 5.656 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
EritreaWorld median
Eritrea fell from 49.39 in 2000 to 47.89 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Eritrea World median 2025 47.8930 28.67 2024 48.0970 29.04 2023 48.2919 29.33 2022 48.4828 29.67 2021 48.6545 30.01 2020 49.1364 30.54 2019 48.4897 29.98 2018 48.6522 30.15 2017 48.7697 29.93 2016 48.7084 29.91 2015 48.8095 30.26 2014 48.8008 30.47 2013 49.1466 31.14 2012 49.0949 31.00 2011 49.1977 31.41 2010 49.2883 32.37 2009 49.3029 32.59 2008 49.1417 31.76 2007 49.0851 33.47 2006 49.1359 34.27 2005 49.1113 34.66 2004 49.1821 35.51 2003 49.1569 35.90 2002 49.1146 35.96 2001 49.2387 35.27 2000 49.3862 35.67
03In context
Eritrea beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Eritrea and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ethiopiacompare | 116th | 66.19 | 38.52 | 3.323 | 84.15 |
| Eritrea | =117th | 73.66 | 35.89 | 5.978 | 47.89 |
 Djibouti | 173rd | 23.49 | 42.73 | 26.02 | 30.29 |
 Sudan | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Eritrea in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Eritrea is ahead of the world, and behind
15 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median4
Statistics on which Eritrea does better than the middle country measured.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3672.8453.36No real change since 2015
Eritrea: 72.84 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 12th of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6678.3561.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Eritrea: 78.35 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 13th of 182 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8128.1641.81No earlier reading
Eritrea: 28.16 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 130th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8310.2412.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Eritrea: 10.24 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 108th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which Eritrea does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0726.0632.07No earlier reading
Eritrea: 26.06 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.612.741.61No real change since 2015
Eritrea: 2.74 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Eritrea: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 986098▼ Worsened since 2015
Eritrea: 60 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.167.64719.16No earlier reading
Eritrea: 7.647 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 159th of 179 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.162.5122.16No real change since 2015
Eritrea: 2.51 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 174th of 182 · derived.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3855.4814.38Moved since 2015
Eritrea: 55.48 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 15th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8452.3731.84No real change since 2015
Eritrea: 52.37 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 54th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8939.8138.89Moved since 2015
Eritrea: 39.81 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 85th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8812.7418.88No real change since 2015
Eritrea: 12.74 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 150th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5131.7859.51No real change since 2015
Eritrea: 31.78 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 167th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Eritrea
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, GDP per Person Employed, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density, Unemployment Benefit Coverage, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Eritrea’s 14 topics
Work & Labour is Eritrea’s 2nd best-placed topic of 14. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 15th of 1863/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 117th of 1824/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 126th of 1773/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 152nd of 2002/4 keys
- Energyjoint 127th of 1652/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience162nd of 1933/4 keys
- Gender & Equality165th of 1832/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital181st of 1963/3 keys
- Digital & Technology190th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture179th of 1842/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge194th of 1982/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 191st of 1943/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties198th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade177th of 1772/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Eritrea can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Nigeria16th4/4 keysHighest in Eastern Africa
Tanzania=29th4/4 keysThis page
Eritrea=117th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Eritrea and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Eritrea on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Eritrea rank on work & labour?
Eritrea is placed joint 117th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Eritrea?
73.66 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Eritrea?
35.89 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Eritrea compare with Ethiopia on work & labour?
Ethiopia is placed 116th of 182, and Eritrea joint 117th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Ethiopia 66.19, Eritrea 73.66; Labour Income Share: Ethiopia 38.52, Eritrea 35.89; Unemployment Rate: Ethiopia 3.323, Eritrea 5.978; Vulnerable Employment: Ethiopia 84.15, Eritrea 47.89.
How have Eritrea’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 76.19 in 2000 to 73.66 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 36.57 in 2004 to 35.89 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 5.656 in 2000 to 5.978 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 49.39 in 2000 to 47.89 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Eritrea?
No current reading is published for Eritrea on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, GDP per Person Employed, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density, Unemployment Benefit Coverage, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 15 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Eritrea’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Eritrea (banner) — Original photograph taken by User:Voice of Clam , edited by jjron - adjusted levels, reduced highlights, sharpened. derivative work: Jjtkk, Public domain
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Eritrea: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/eritrea/work