Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zambia
Zambia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 5.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zambia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zambia is 5.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zambia peaked at 19.7% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 2017.
That places Zambia 80th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.9% | — |
| 1992 | 19.6% | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 19.7% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 18.7% | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 16.8% | -9.9% |
| 1996 | 15.3% | -9.1% |
| 1997 | 13.3% | -13.2% |
| 1998 | 12.0% | -9.6% |
| 1999 | 12.5% | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 12.9% | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 13.4% | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 14.1% | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 14.7% | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 15.3% | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 13.2% | -16.8% |
| 2007 | 10.6% | -20.2% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | -24.9% |
| 2009 | 10.6% | +33.5% |
| 2010 | 13.2% | +24.6% |
| 2011 | 10.5% | -20.0% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | -25.6% |
| 2013 | 7.3% | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 6.6% | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 6.0% | -9.5% |
| 2016 | 5.2% | -11.9% |
| 2017 | 4.5% | -13.6% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | +11.1% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | +10.1% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 5.2% | -13.8% |
| 2022 | 6.0% | +15.3% |
| 2023 | 5.9% | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 5.9% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 5.9% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.3% | 12.0% | 19.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.9% | 7.9% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 4.5% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 5.2% | 6.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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 unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zambia?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zambia was 5.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.7% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 2017.
- How does Zambia rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Zambia ranks 80th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.