Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total … 15-24 modeled in Zambia
Zambia: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total … 15-24 modeled was 36.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Zambia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Zambia recorded 36.9% for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Zambia peaked at 42.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 35.4%, in 2022.
Zambia ranks 107th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total … 15-24 modeled in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 42.1% | — |
| 1991 | 41.9% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 41.8% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 41.8% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 41.8% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 41.8% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 41.8% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 41.8% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 41.8% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 41.7% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 41.5% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 41.2% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 40.9% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 40.6% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 40.4% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 40.1% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 39.9% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 39.6% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 39.4% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 39.1% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 38.8% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 38.6% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 38.4% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 38.0% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 37.7% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 37.3% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 36.8% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 36.3% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 35.8% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 36.7% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 39.3% | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 38.2% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 35.4% | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 37.1% | +4.8% |
| 2024 | 36.9% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 36.9% | -0.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 36.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.2%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 36.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 97% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
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 | 37.3% | 35.4% | 39.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 104 Uzbekistan 37.5% compare
- 105 Vanuatu 37.0% compare
- 106 Lithuania 36.9% compare
- 108 Slovenia 36.7% compare
- 109 Cote d'Ivoire 36.5% compare
- 110 New Caledonia 36.4% compare
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 for ages 15-24, total (%) in Zambia?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Zambia was 36.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.4% in 2022.
- How does Zambia rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
- Zambia ranks 107th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.