Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Zambia
Zambia: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 63.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Zambia, 1969–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Zambia recorded 63.2% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Zambia peaked at 80.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 28.4%, in 1969.
That places Zambia 94th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 28.4% | — |
| 1980 | 58.8% | +106.6% |
| 1990 | 46.6% | -20.7% |
| 1991 | 62.9% | +34.9% |
| 1996 | 66.7% | +6.0% |
| 1998 | 62.0% | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 55.7% | -10.2% |
| 2005 | 80.0% | +43.6% |
| 2008 | 74.5% | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 62.3% | -16.4% |
| 2012 | 74.6% | +19.7% |
| 2015 | 50.7% | -32.0% |
| 2017 | 62.7% | +23.5% |
| 2018 | 58.5% | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 59.5% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 60.9% | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 60.1% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 59.5% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 62.0% | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 63.2% | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 28.4% | 28.4% | 28.4% | 1 |
| 1980s | 58.8% | 58.8% | 58.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 59.6% | 46.6% | 66.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 70.1% | 55.7% | 80.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 61.4% | 50.7% | 74.6% | 6 |
| 2020s | 61.1% | 59.5% | 63.2% | 5 |
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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Zambia?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Zambia was 63.2% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 80.0% in 2005.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.4% in 1969.
- How does Zambia rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Zambia ranks 94th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total 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.