Labor force, total in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Labor force, total was 6.85 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Zimbabwe, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Zimbabwe stood at 6.85 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 28.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Zimbabwe peaked at 6.85 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.59 million, in 1990.
Zimbabwe ranks 71st of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.59 million | — |
| 1991 | 3.71 million | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 3.81 million | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 3.85 million | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 3.88 million | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 3.96 million | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 4.08 million | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 4.21 million | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 4.35 million | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 4.47 million | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 4.54 million | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 4.59 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 4.64 million | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 4.69 million | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 4.73 million | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 4.76 million | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 4.81 million | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 4.87 million | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 4.91 million | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 4.96 million | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 5.02 million | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 5.08 million | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 5.14 million | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 5.20 million | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 5.27 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 5.35 million | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 5.44 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 5.54 million | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 5.65 million | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 5.77 million | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 5.81 million | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 6.01 million | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 6.12 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 6.50 million | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 6.66 million | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 6.85 million | +2.9% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 6.85 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 1.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 6.85 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.99 million | 3.59 million | 4.47 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.75 million | 4.54 million | 4.96 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.35 million | 5.02 million | 5.77 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.32 million | 5.81 million | 6.85 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More education data for Zimbabwe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,585 (2013)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,514 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 328,055 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,698 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 957,461 (2013)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.94 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.4866 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1767 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Zimbabwe?
- Labor force, total in Zimbabwe was 6.85 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 6.85 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.59 million in 1990.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for labor force, total?
- Zimbabwe ranks 71st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.