Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Zambia
Zambia: Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) was 16.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Zambia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Zambia is 16.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Zambia peaked at 16.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.6%, in 2000.
Zambia ranks 157th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.3% | — |
| 1992 | 10.1% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 10.2% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 9.8% | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 9.6% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 9.5% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 9.4% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 9.1% | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 8.3% | -8.2% |
| 2000 | 7.6% | -8.6% |
| 2001 | 7.9% | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 8.2% | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 8.6% | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 9.0% | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 9.3% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 9.5% | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 9.7% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 10.0% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 10.6% | +6.9% |
| 2010 | 11.6% | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 12.2% | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 13.2% | +7.8% |
| 2013 | 13.8% | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 14.6% | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 15.2% | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 15.3% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 15.3% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 15.7% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 14.0% | -10.5% |
| 2020 | 13.1% | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 15.6% | +19.0% |
| 2022 | 14.8% | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 15.4% | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 15.6% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 16.0% | +2.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 16.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.1%, 80% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 16.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.8%, 95% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.6% | 8.3% | 10.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 7.6% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.1% | 11.6% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 13.1% | 16.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More work & labour data for Zambia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5224 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.5281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.7611 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 25,577 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,424 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 32,895 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 31,579 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 64,474 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Zambia?
- Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Zambia was 16.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in industry, male (% of male employment) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 16.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment in industry, male (% of male employment) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.6% in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for employment in industry, male (% of male employment)?
- Zambia ranks 157th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry, male (% of male employment) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The industry sector consists of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities (electricity, gas, and water), in accordance with divisions 2-5 (ISIC 2) or categories C-F (ISIC 3) or categories B-F (ISIC 4).