Eritrea Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
Eritrea's services employment was 31.78% in 2025, ranked 16th globally. This represents a 1.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Eritrea's services employment stood at 31.78% in 2025, a rise of +0.44% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 32.20% by 2026. Eritrea ranked 16th globally.
Eritrea’s services sector employed 31.78 percent of the labour force in 2025, placing the country 16th worldwide among 35 years of coverage. The share rose from a low of 27.31 percent in 1992, the all‑time trough, to a peak of 33.67 percent in 2002 before settling at its current level. Over the three‑decade span the trajectory has been upward, reflecting gradual diversification away from agriculture and mining toward tourism, telecommunications and public administration. Eritrea’s figure is comparable to Burkina Faso’s 31.56 percent and slightly below India’s 32.56 percent, underscoring a regional convergence among developing economies that are expanding service‑oriented employment. The modest decline from the 2002 high suggests that structural constraints, such as limited private‑sector investment and persistent infrastructural gaps, continue to temper growth. Continued reforms in regulatory frameworks and increased foreign direct investment in services could revive the upward trend and push the employment share beyond the 2002 peak.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 33.02% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 32.61% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 32.20% | - | - |
| 2025 | 31.78% | +0.44% | #16 |
| 2024 | 31.34% | +0.30% | #16 |
| 2023 | 31.04% | +0.41% | #16 |
| 2022 | 30.63% | +0.53% | #17 |
| 2021 | 30.09% | −0.34% | #15 |
| 2020 | 30.44% | −1.10% | #16 |
| 2019 | 31.54% | +0.48% | #16 |
| 2018 | 31.06% | +1.79% | #18 |
| 2017 | 29.27% | −1.63% | #15 |
| 2016 | 30.90% | +1.10% | #18 |
| 2015 | 29.80% | −2.24% | #17 |
| 2014 | 32.03% | +2.68% | #23 |
| 2013 | 29.35% | −1.77% | #18 |
| 2012 | 31.13% | +0.28% | #22 |
| 2011 | 30.84% | +1.22% | #24 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Eritrea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw services employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Eritrea's services employment was 31.78% in 2025. Ranked 16th globally. This represents a 1.4% increase from the previous year.
Eritrea's services employment peaked at 33.67% in 2002.
The lowest services employment in Eritrea was 27.31% in 1992.
Eritrea ranks 16th globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Eritrea's services employment is projected to reach 32.20% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of Eritrea in 2025 was 31.78%. This ranks 16th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_eritrea_services-employment,
title = {Eritrea Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/eritrea/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}