Labor force participation rate, male (% of male) … national male in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male) … national male was 78.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zimbabwe, 1982–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zimbabwe is 78.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 10.1% on the previous year and down 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zimbabwe peaked at 89.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 71.5%, in 2024.
Zimbabwe ranks 35th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male) … national male in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 80.0% | — |
| 1987 | 77.1% | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 79.4% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 78.6% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 88.3% | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 88.1% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 76.8% | -12.9% |
| 2014 | 89.5% | +16.5% |
| 2019 | 71.9% | -19.6% |
| 2021 | 71.5% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 71.6% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 74.3% | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 71.5% | -3.8% |
| 2025 | 78.7% | +10.1% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 78.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 72.3%, 1.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 78.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 71.5%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 78.6% | 77.1% | 80.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 79.0% | 78.6% | 79.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 88.3% | 88.3% | 88.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 81.5% | 71.9% | 89.5% | 4 |
| 2020s | 73.5% | 71.5% | 78.7% | 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zimbabwe?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Zimbabwe was 78.7% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 89.5% in 2014.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.5% in 2024.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Zimbabwe ranks 35th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national 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.