Labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Labor force participation rate was 67.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
67.7%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
41st
of 186 countries
All-time high
67.8%
in 2023
All-time low
64.7%
in 2020
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 67.7% for labor force participation rate in 2025.
The figure is up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe peaked at 67.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 64.7%, in 2020.
Zimbabwe ranks 41st of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 67.0% | — |
| 1991 | 66.8% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 66.9% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 67.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 66.9% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 66.7% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 66.4% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 66.2% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 65.9% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 65.7% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 65.6% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 65.5% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 65.5% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 65.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 65.6% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 65.6% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 65.7% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 65.7% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 65.7% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 65.8% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 65.9% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 66.0% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 66.1% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 66.1% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 66.2% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 66.1% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 66.1% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 66.0% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 65.9% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 65.8% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 64.7% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 65.4% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 65.2% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 67.8% | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 67.7% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 67.7% | -0.0% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 67.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.7%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 67.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.3%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.6% | 65.7% | 67.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.6% | 65.5% | 65.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.0% | 65.8% | 66.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.4% | 64.7% | 67.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 38 Macao 67.8% compare
- 39 Congo 67.8% compare
- 40 Kazakhstan 67.8% compare
- 42 Kenya 67.4% compare
- 43 Netherlands 67.2% compare
- 44 Cote d'Ivoire 67.1% compare
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 in Zimbabwe?
- Labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe was 67.7% 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 67.8% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.7% in 2020.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for labor force participation rate?
- Zimbabwe ranks 41st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).