Female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Female labor force participation rate was 62.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
62.2%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
36th
of 186 countries
All-time high
62.2%
in 2023
All-time low
59.1%
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe stood at 62.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe peaked at 62.2% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 59.1%, in 1990.
That places Zimbabwe 36th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59.1% | — |
| 1991 | 59.3% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 59.3% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 59.3% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 59.5% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 59.7% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 60.0% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 60.2% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 60.5% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 60.7% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 60.9% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 61.0% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 61.0% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 61.0% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 61.0% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 60.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 60.8% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 60.7% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 60.6% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 60.5% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 60.4% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 60.4% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 60.5% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 60.6% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 60.7% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 59.4% | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 60.1% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 59.8% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 62.2% | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 62.1% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 62.2% | +0.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 62.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.7%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 62.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.3%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.8% | 59.1% | 60.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.9% | 60.7% | 61.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.5% | 60.4% | 60.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.0% | 59.4% | 62.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More work & labour data for Zimbabwe
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1727 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2032 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0937 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 13,627 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16,032 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 19,130 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 18,036 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 37,167 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe?
- Female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe was 62.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 62.2% in 2023.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.1% in 1990.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Zimbabwe ranks 36th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).