Employment rate, men vs. women in Zambia
Zambia: Employment rate, men vs. women was 63.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate, men vs. women in Zambia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, employment rate, men vs. women in Zambia stood at 63.8%.
The figure is up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in Zambia peaked at 63.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 56.1%, in 1993.
That places Zambia 108th 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 rate, men vs. women in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 58.0% | — |
| 1992 | 56.9% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 56.1% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 56.7% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 57.9% | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 59.0% | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 60.0% | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 60.6% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 59.9% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 59.2% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 58.7% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 58.0% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 57.5% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 57.0% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 56.5% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 58.4% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 60.2% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 62.0% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 60.0% | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 58.1% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 59.8% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 61.5% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 61.7% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 62.0% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 62.2% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 62.4% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 62.6% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 61.8% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 63.3% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 63.8% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 63.1% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 61.5% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 63.9% | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 63.7% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 63.8% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.3% | 56.1% | 60.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 58.8% | 56.5% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.5% | 58.1% | 63.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.3% | 61.5% | 63.9% | 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 rate, men vs. women in Zambia?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in Zambia was 63.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 63.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.1% in 1993.
- How does Zambia rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- Zambia ranks 108th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate, men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.