Labor force participation rate by age in Zambia
Zambia: Labor force participation rate by age was 36.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Zambia, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Zambia stood at 36.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Zambia peaked at 42.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 35.4%, in 2022.
That places Zambia 106th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.8% | 41.7% | 42.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.3% | 39.1% | 41.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.4% | 35.8% | 38.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.4% | 35.4% | 39.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 103 Luxembourg 37.3% compare
- 104 Vanuatu 37.3% compare
- 105 Cote d'Ivoire 37.0% compare
- 107 Lithuania 36.8% compare
- 108 Slovenia 36.8% compare
- 109 Trinidad and Tobago 36.7% compare
More work & labour data for Zambia
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 67.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 62.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 83.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 36.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 34.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Zambia?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Zambia was 36.9% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.4% in 2022.
- How does Zambia rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Zambia ranks 106th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).