Photo: Bernard Gagnon derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Ethiopia: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Ethiopia is placed 116th 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 66.19 (2025); Labour Income Share 38.52 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
116th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Ethiopia 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
66.19
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Ethiopia: 66.19. 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 · Eritrea 73.66 · Kenya 63.71 · Somalia 27.43
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
3.323
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Ethiopia: 3.323. 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 · Eritrea 5.978 · Kenya 5.449 · Somalia 18.95
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
84.15
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Ethiopia: 84.15. 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 · Eritrea 47.89 · Kenya 63.83 · Somalia 45.97
02Over time
Which way Ethiopia 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
EthiopiaWorld median
Ethiopia fell from 79.2 in 2000 to 66.19 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Ethiopia World median 2025 66.185 57.720 2024 66.168 57.694 2023 66.149 58.158 2022 66.153 57.688 2021 65.567 56.066 2020 66.617 55.691 2019 69.478 57.871 2018 71.104 56.911 2017 72.766 56.738 2016 74.416 56.845 2015 76.079 56.788 2014 77.728 56.774 2013 79.409 56.229 2012 79.505 56.289 2011 79.587 56.297 2010 79.663 56.212 2009 79.733 56.255 2008 79.828 57.308 2007 79.914 56.933 2006 80.008 56.685 2005 79.971 56.129 2004 79.768 55.465 2003 79.599 55.630 2002 79.575 55.843 2001 79.491 56.018 2000 79.202 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
EthiopiaWorld median
Ethiopia rose from 37.27 in 2004 to 38.52 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Ethiopia World median 2025 38.525 46.230 2024 38.310 46.060 2023 38.587 45.900 2022 38.840 45.615 2021 37.105 45.433 2020 38.137 47.267 2019 38.139 46.277 2018 38.482 46.187 2017 37.765 46.467 2016 37.775 46.798 2015 37.525 46.876 2014 37.526 47.281 2013 37.421 46.887 2012 37.984 46.231 2011 37.449 45.679 2010 37.214 46.024 2009 38.252 47.071 2008 37.863 45.312 2007 37.808 45.246 2006 38.063 45.670 2005 37.902 46.265 2004 37.274 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
EthiopiaWorld median
Ethiopia fell from 3.499 in 2000 to 3.323 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Ethiopia World median 2025 3.323 5.08 2024 3.357 5.15 2023 3.375 5.21 2022 3.386 5.34 2021 3.935 6.04 2020 3.998 6.38 2019 2.928 5.36 2018 2.811 5.35 2017 2.665 5.59 2016 2.556 5.90 2015 2.442 6.41 2014 2.361 6.58 2013 2.251 6.71 2012 2.252 6.79 2011 2.270 6.90 2010 2.295 7.04 2009 2.326 6.67 2008 2.326 5.79 2007 2.337 6.00 2006 2.337 6.50 2005 2.497 7.09 2004 2.776 6.80 2003 3.008 6.95 2002 3.054 6.91 2001 3.160 6.96 2000 3.499 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
EthiopiaWorld median
Ethiopia fell from 89.57 in 2000 to 84.15 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Ethiopia World median 2025 84.15 28.67 2024 84.47 29.04 2023 84.78 29.33 2022 85.06 29.67 2021 85.34 30.01 2020 85.74 30.54 2019 85.22 29.98 2018 85.57 30.15 2017 85.95 29.93 2016 86.36 29.91 2015 86.81 30.26 2014 87.26 30.47 2013 87.73 31.14 2012 88.07 31.00 2011 88.44 31.41 2010 88.83 32.37 2009 89.22 32.59 2008 89.58 31.76 2007 89.95 33.47 2006 90.26 34.27 2005 90.52 34.66 2004 90.35 35.51 2003 90.20 35.90 2002 89.91 35.96 2001 89.72 35.27 2000 89.57 35.67
03In context
Ethiopia 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.
Ethiopia 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia | 116th | 66.19 | 38.52 | 3.323 | 84.15 |
 Eritreacompare | =117th | 73.66 | 35.89 | 5.978 | 47.89 |
 Kenyacompare | 139th | 63.71 | 33.28 | 5.449 | 63.83 |
 Djibouti | 173rd | 23.49 | 42.73 | 26.02 | 30.29 |
 Somalia | 180th | 27.43 | 37.55 | 18.95 | 45.97 |
| Somaliland | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 South Sudan | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 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 Ethiopia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Ethiopia is ahead of the world, and behind
23 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 median5
Statistics on which Ethiopia does better than the middle country measured.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.835.35312.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Ethiopia: 5.353 · 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 154th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6668.4661.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Ethiopia: 68.46 · 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 32nd of 182 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8124.5341.81No earlier reading
Ethiopia: 24.53 · 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 142nd of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 9812098▲ Improved since 2015
Ethiopia: 120 · 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.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3658.4653.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Ethiopia: 58.46 · 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 57th of 182 · derived.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Ethiopia does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1616.4419.16No earlier reading
Ethiopia: 16.44 · 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 109th of 179 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.612.541.61▲ Improved since 2015
Ethiopia: 2.54 · 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.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88528.234.885No real change since 2015
Ethiopia: 28.23 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.689.3516.68No earlier reading
Ethiopia: 9.35 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 108th of 139 · derived.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,2308,49325,230No real change since 2010
Ethiopia: 8,493 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 118th of 151 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.99.745.9No earlier reading
Ethiopia: 9.7 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.164.7322.16▲ Improved since 2015
Ethiopia: 4.73 · 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 160th of 182 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7421,1546,742▲ Improved since 2015
Ethiopia: 1,154 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 135th of 151 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,3847,63847,384▲ Improved since 2015
Ethiopia: 7,638 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 155th of 168 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.078.83932.07No earlier reading
Ethiopia: 8.839 · 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.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 333▲ Improved since 2015
Ethiopia: 3 · 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.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Ethiopia: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8484.3131.84Moved since 2015
Ethiopia: 84.31 · 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 11th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3860.1414.38Moved since 2015
Ethiopia: 60.14 · 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 13th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.017.01615.01No earlier reading
Ethiopia: 7.016 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 104th of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8931.138.89Moved since 2015
Ethiopia: 31.1 · 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 162nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5133.4159.51Moved since 2015
Ethiopia: 33.41 · 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 165th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.886.44818.88Moved since 2015
Ethiopia: 6.448 · 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 179th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Ethiopia
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2021), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2021), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2021), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2021), Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2021), Share of Temporary Employees (last 2021), Statutory Minimum Wage (last 2011) and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2021). 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 Ethiopia’s 14 topics
Work & Labour is Ethiopia’s 3rd best-placed topic of 14. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability52nd of 1864/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 87th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour116th of 1824/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality107th of 1593/3 keys
- Gender & Equality127th of 1834/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions144th of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties151st of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture145th of 1844/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation148th of 1764/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing173rd of 2004/4 keys
- Peace & Security155th of 1774/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital174th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience172nd of 1934/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge178th of 1984/4 keys
No standing on Mobility & Trade, Energy: 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 Ethiopia 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
Ethiopia116th4/4 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 Ethiopia 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
Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia rank on work & labour?
Ethiopia is placed 116th 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 Ethiopia?
66.19 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 Ethiopia?
38.52 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 Ethiopia compare with Kenya on work & labour?
Kenya is placed 139th of 182, and Ethiopia 116th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Kenya 63.71, Ethiopia 66.19; Labour Income Share: Kenya 33.28, Ethiopia 38.52; Unemployment Rate: Kenya 5.449, Ethiopia 3.323; Vulnerable Employment: Kenya 63.83, Ethiopia 84.15.
How have Ethiopia’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 79.2 in 2000 to 66.19 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 37.27 in 2004 to 38.52 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 3.499 in 2000 to 3.323 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 89.57 in 2000 to 84.15 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Ethiopia?
No current reading is published for Ethiopia on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage 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 23 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
Ethiopia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Ethiopia (banner) — Bernard Gagnon derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 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). Ethiopia: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/ethiopia/work