Labour dependency ratio in Zambia

Zambia: Labour dependency ratio was 1.86 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
1.86
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
43rd
of 188 countries
All-time high
3.03
in 1993
All-time low
1.86
in 2027
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Labour dependency ratio in Zambia, 1991–2027

01231991200920271991: 31992: 31993: 31994: 31995: 2.91996: 2.81997: 2.71998: 2.71999: 2.72000: 2.72001: 2.72002: 2.72003: 2.82004: 2.82005: 2.82006: 2.72007: 2.52008: 2.42009: 2.52010: 2.62011: 2.52012: 2.42013: 2.42014: 2.32015: 2.32016: 2.32017: 2.22018: 2.22019: 2.22020: 2.12021: 2.12022: 2.12023: 22024: 1.92025: 1.92026: 1.92027: 1.9

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labour dependency ratio in Zambia is 1.86, measured in 2027. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.

The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 16.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour dependency ratio in Zambia peaked at 3.03 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 1.86, in 2027.

That places Zambia 43rd out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.

Labour dependency ratio in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Labour dependency ratio (ILO modelled estimates) in Zambia, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 3
1992 3.03 +1.0%
1993 3.03 +0.1%
1994 2.98 -1.7%
1995 2.9 -3.0%
1996 2.83 -2.4%
1997 2.74 -3.2%
1998 2.68 -2.0%
1999 2.7 +0.7%
2000 2.71 +0.4%
2001 2.72 +0.4%
2002 2.74 +0.7%
2003 2.76 +0.6%
2004 2.77 +0.7%
2005 2.79 +0.6%
2006 2.67 -4.5%
2007 2.55 -4.4%
2008 2.44 -4.3%
2009 2.53 +3.8%
2010 2.63 +3.8%
2011 2.51 -4.4%
2012 2.4 -4.4%
2013 2.37 -1.3%
2014 2.34 -1.5%
2015 2.3 -1.5%
2016 2.26 -1.7%
2017 2.22 -1.8%
2018 2.22 +0.1%
2019 2.16 -2.8%
2020 2.08 -3.5%
2021 2.07 -0.6%
2022 2.1 +1.5%
2023 1.95 -7.1%
2024 1.93 -1.1%
2025 1.91 -1.3%
2026 1.88 -1.3%
2027 1.86 -1.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 2.88 2.68 3.03 9
2000s 2.67 2.44 2.79 10
2010s 2.34 2.16 2.63 10
2020s 1.98 1.86 2.1 8

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 40 Comoros 1.9 compare
  2. 41 Equatorial Guinea 1.88 compare
  3. 42 Togo 1.87 compare
  4. 44 Botswana 1.8 compare
  5. 45 Mali 1.8 compare
  6. 46 Central African Republic 1.79 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour dependency ratio in Zambia?
Labour dependency ratio in Zambia was 1.86 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest labour dependency ratio recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 3.03 in 1993.
What is the lowest labour dependency ratio recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 1.86 in 2027.
How does Zambia rank for labour dependency ratio?
Zambia ranks 43rd out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is labour dependency ratio rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is down 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour dependency ratio (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labour dependency ratio in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-dependency-ratio-ilo-modelled-estimates/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour dependency ratio (ILO modelled estimates)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,188 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. This indicator provides the ratio of dependents (persons aged 0 to 14 + persons aged 15 and above that are either outside the labour force or unemployed) to total employment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.