Labor force participation rate by age in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Labor force participation rate by age was 48.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Zimbabwe, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate by age in Zimbabwe is 48.2%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Zimbabwe peaked at 57.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 45.7%, in 2022.
Zimbabwe ranks 56th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57.3% | — |
| 1991 | 56.5% | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 56.8% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 57.2% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 56.5% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 55.4% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 53.9% | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 52.4% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 50.9% | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 49.8% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 49.0% | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 48.4% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 48.2% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 48.4% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 48.7% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 49.0% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 49.2% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 49.4% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 49.7% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 50.2% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 50.8% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 51.4% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 51.9% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 52.2% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 52.3% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 52.1% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 51.7% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 51.3% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 50.7% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 50.1% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 49.2% | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 48.9% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 45.7% | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 48.4% | +5.9% |
| 2024 | 48.2% | -0.3% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 48.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 1.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 48.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.7% | 49.8% | 57.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.0% | 48.2% | 50.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.4% | 50.1% | 52.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.1% | 45.7% | 49.2% | 5 |
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 labor force participation rate by age in Zimbabwe?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Zimbabwe was 48.2% 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 57.3% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.7% in 2022.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Zimbabwe ranks 56th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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).