Eritrea Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Eritrea's unemployment rate was 5.98% in 2025, ranked 109th globally. This represents a 0.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Eritrea's unemployment rate stood at 5.98% in 2025, a rise of +0.03pp from 2024. Eritrea ranked 109th globally.
Eritrea’s unemployment rate has shown modest variation over the 35‑year series compiled by the World Bank, rising from a low of 5.13 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 6.49 % in 2021 before easing to 5.98 % in 2025, placing the country 109th globally. The upward movement during the early 2020s coincided with regional disruptions and domestic fiscal tightening, while the recent decline reflects modest job‑creation initiatives in the services and construction sectors. Eritrea’s 2025 rate is virtually identical to Brazil’s 5.97 % and the European Union’s 5.93 %, underscoring a convergence with broader emerging‑economy benchmarks despite differing structural contexts. The narrow swing between the trough and peak suggests limited labor‑market volatility, yet the persistence of a rate near 6 % indicates structural constraints that could be amplified by external shocks or mitigated by sustained investment in vocational training and private‑sector diversification. Continued policy focus on skill development will be crucial to steer the unemployment trend downward.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.98% | +0.03pp | #109 |
| 2024 | 5.95% | +0.04pp | #115 |
| 2023 | 5.91% | −0.12pp | #114 |
| 2022 | 6.03% | −0.46pp | #113 |
| 2021 | 6.49% | +0.11pp | #106 |
| 2020 | 6.38% | +0.56pp | #96 |
| 2019 | 5.81% | +0.06pp | #108 |
| 2018 | 5.76% | −0.05pp | #105 |
| 2017 | 5.80% | +0.03pp | #97 |
| 2016 | 5.77% | +0.02pp | #92 |
| 2015 | 5.75% | +0.11pp | #87 |
| 2014 | 5.64% | +0.01pp | #83 |
| 2013 | 5.62% | −0.07pp | #84 |
| 2012 | 5.69% | −0.11pp | #85 |
| 2011 | 5.80% | −0.05pp | #86 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Eritrea matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Eritrea's unemployment rate was 5.98% in 2025. Ranked 109th globally. This represents a 0.5% increase from the previous year.
Eritrea's unemployment rate peaked at 6.49% in 2021.
The lowest unemployment rate in Eritrea was 5.13% in 1991.
Eritrea ranks 109th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Eritrea in 2025 was 5.98%. This ranks 109th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_eritrea_unemployment-rate,
title = {Eritrea Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/eritrea/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}