Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Zambia
Zambia: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 56.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Zambia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Zambia stood at 56.4%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Zambia peaked at 56.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 51.0%, in 1990.
Zambia ranks 74th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 51.0% | — |
| 1991 | 51.0% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 51.1% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 51.1% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 51.1% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 51.1% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 51.1% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 51.1% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 51.1% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 51.1% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 51.1% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 51.2% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 51.2% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 51.2% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 51.3% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 51.3% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 51.3% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 51.3% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 51.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 51.4% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 51.5% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 51.5% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 51.5% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 51.6% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 51.7% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 51.8% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 51.9% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 52.0% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 52.1% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 52.2% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 54.4% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 54.1% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 54.0% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 56.4% | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 56.4% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 56.4% | +0.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 56.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.7%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 56.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.3%, 98% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 51.1% | 51.0% | 51.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.3% | 51.1% | 51.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.8% | 51.5% | 52.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.3% | 54.0% | 56.4% | 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Zambia?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Zambia was 56.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 56.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.0% in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Zambia ranks 74th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.