Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Zambia
Zambia: Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 was 53.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Zambia, 1986–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Zambia is 53.8%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 48.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Zambia peaked at 64.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 26.6%, in 1990.
Zambia ranks 68th of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 53.5% | — |
| 1990 | 26.6% | -50.3% |
| 1991 | 41.9% | +57.7% |
| 1998 | 50.0% | +19.3% |
| 2000 | 39.8% | -20.3% |
| 2008 | 64.9% | +62.9% |
| 2015 | 36.2% | -44.2% |
| 2017 | 53.8% | +48.7% |
| 2018 | 49.6% | -7.7% |
| 2019 | 49.7% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 51.1% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 51.1% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 50.6% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 53.0% | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 53.8% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 53.5% | 53.5% | 53.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 39.5% | 26.6% | 50.0% | 3 |
| 2000s | 52.4% | 39.8% | 64.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 47.3% | 36.2% | 53.8% | 4 |
| 2020s | 51.9% | 50.6% | 53.8% | 5 |
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 female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Zambia?
- Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Zambia was 53.8% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 64.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.6% in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024?
- Zambia ranks 68th out of 172 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are employed. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.