Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zambia
Zambia: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 67.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zambia, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zambia stood at 67.6%.
That represents a change of up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zambia peaked at 69.3% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 65.0%, in 2018.
Zambia ranks 114th 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 69.3% | — |
| 1991 | 69.2% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 69.2% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 69.2% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 69.2% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 69.2% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 69.2% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 69.2% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 69.2% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 69.1% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 69.0% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 68.8% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 68.6% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 68.4% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 68.2% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 68.0% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 67.8% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 67.6% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 67.4% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 67.2% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 67.1% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 66.9% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 66.7% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 66.5% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 66.3% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 66.0% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 65.7% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 65.4% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 65.0% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 67.2% | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 67.6% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 66.3% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 65.3% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 67.8% | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 67.6% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 67.6% | -0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 67.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 70.3%, 96% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 67.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.1%, 96% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 69.2% | 69.1% | 69.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.1% | 67.2% | 69.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.3% | 65.0% | 67.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.0% | 65.3% | 67.8% | 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zambia?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zambia was 67.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 69.3% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.0% in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Zambia ranks 114th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.