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
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.
Labor force participation rate in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59.7% | — |
| 1991 | 59.6% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 59.6% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 59.6% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 59.6% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 59.6% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 59.6% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 59.6% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 59.6% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 59.6% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 59.6% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 59.5% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 59.4% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 59.4% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 59.3% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 59.3% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 59.3% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 59.2% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 59.2% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 59.1% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 59.1% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 59.0% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 59.0% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 58.9% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 58.8% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 58.8% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 58.7% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 58.6% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 58.5% | -0.2% |
| 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 | 61.9% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 61.9% | +0.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 61.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.7%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 61.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 96% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
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 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).