Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Zambia
Zambia: Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) was 58.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Zambia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Zambia is 58.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Zambia peaked at 58.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 47.9%, in 1993.
That places Zambia 89th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 48.4% | — |
| 1992 | 47.9% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 47.9% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 48.5% | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 49.6% | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 50.5% | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 51.7% | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 52.4% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 52.1% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 51.9% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 51.5% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 51.0% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 50.7% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 50.2% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 49.9% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 51.4% | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 53.0% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 54.5% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 52.9% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 51.3% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 52.8% | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 54.3% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 54.6% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 55.0% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 55.3% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 55.6% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 55.9% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 55.5% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 56.2% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 57.2% | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 57.0% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 56.0% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 58.3% | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 58.3% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 58.3% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.9% | 47.9% | 52.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 51.7% | 49.9% | 54.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.7% | 51.3% | 56.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.5% | 56.0% | 58.3% | 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 to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Zambia?
- Employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) in Zambia was 58.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 58.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.9% in 1993.
- How does Zambia rank for employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%)?
- Zambia ranks 89th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio, 15+, total (%) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. 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 to population ratio, 15+, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed.