Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Zambia
Zambia: Labor force, female (% of total labor force) was 46.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force, female in Zambia, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in Zambia stood at 46.3%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Zambia peaked at 46.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 44.6%, in 2019.
That places Zambia 82nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 45.0% | — |
| 1991 | 45.1% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 45.2% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 45.3% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 45.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 45.4% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 45.5% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 45.5% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 45.4% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 45.4% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 45.4% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 45.3% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 45.2% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 45.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 45.1% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 45.0% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 44.9% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 44.8% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 44.7% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 44.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 44.6% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 44.6% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 44.7% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 44.7% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 44.8% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 44.9% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 45.1% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 45.2% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 45.4% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 44.6% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 45.5% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 45.8% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 46.1% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 46.3% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 46.3% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 46.3% | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 46.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 43.6%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 46.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 47.5%, 97% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.3% | 45.0% | 45.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.0% | 44.6% | 45.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.9% | 44.6% | 45.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.0% | 45.5% | 46.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 79 Burkina Faso 46.5% compare
- 80 Haiti 46.5% compare
- 81 Germany 46.5% compare
- 83 Saint Lucia 46.3% compare
- 84 New Caledonia 46.2% compare
- 85 Jamaica 46.1% compare
More education data for Zambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,585 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 169,961 (2013)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.39 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.49 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.55 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2106 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.49 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Zambia?
- Labor force, female in Zambia was 46.3% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 46.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.6% in 2019.
- How does Zambia rank for labor force, female?
- Zambia ranks 82nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, female (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.