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Labor force participation rate in Zambia

Zambia: Labor force participation rate was 61.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
61.9%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
90th
of 186 countries
All-time high
62.0%
in 2023
All-time low
58.5%
in 2018
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Labor force participation rate in Zambia, 1990–2025

02040601990200720251990: 59.7 %1991: 59.6 %1992: 59.6 %1993: 59.6 %1994: 59.6 %1995: 59.6 %1996: 59.6 %1997: 59.6 %1998: 59.6 %1999: 59.6 %2000: 59.6 %2001: 59.5 %2002: 59.4 %2003: 59.4 %2004: 59.3 %2005: 59.3 %2006: 59.3 %2007: 59.2 %2008: 59.2 %2009: 59.1 %2010: 59.1 %2011: 59 %2012: 59 %2013: 58.9 %2014: 58.8 %2015: 58.8 %2016: 58.7 %2017: 58.6 %2018: 58.5 %2019: 59.5 %2020: 60.9 %2021: 60.1 %2022: 59.5 %2023: 62 %2024: 61.9 %2025: 61.9 %

Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2025, labor force participation rate in Zambia stood at 61.9%.

That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Zambia peaked at 62.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 58.5%, in 2018.

That places Zambia 90th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 59.6% 59.6% 59.7% 10
2000s 59.3% 59.1% 59.6% 10
2010s 58.9% 58.5% 59.5% 10
2020s 61.0% 59.5% 62.0% 6

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 87 Chile 62.3% compare
  2. 88 Guam 62.3% compare
  3. 89 El Salvador 62.1% compare
  4. 91 Argentina 61.9% compare
  5. 92 United States 61.7% compare
  6. 93 Mexico 61.6% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate in Zambia?
Labor force participation rate in Zambia was 61.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 62.0% in 2023.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 58.5% in 2018.
How does Zambia rank for labor force participation rate?
Zambia ranks 90th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate
Unit
%
Source
ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,682 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).