Labour force: ICLS13) (15+) … previous ICLS13 15+ in Zambia
Zambia: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 63.24 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Zambia, 1969–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2024, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Zambia stood at 63.24.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Zambia peaked at 80 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 28.45, in 1969.
Zambia ranks 98th of 210 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 28.45 | — |
| 1980 | 58.76 | +106.6% |
| 1990 | 46.61 | -20.7% |
| 1991 | 62.9 | +34.9% |
| 1996 | 66.7 | +6.0% |
| 1998 | 62 | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 55.7 | -10.2% |
| 2005 | 80 | +43.6% |
| 2008 | 74.5 | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 62.3 | -16.4% |
| 2012 | 74.6 | +19.7% |
| 2015 | 50.74 | -32.0% |
| 2017 | 62.67 | +23.5% |
| 2018 | 58.48 | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 59.54 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 60.87 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 60.1 | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 59.53 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 61.96 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 63.24 | +2.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 63.24 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 58.52, 1.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 63.24 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 64.69, 98% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +106.6% | 28.45 | 58.76 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 28.45 | 28.45 | 28.45 | 1 |
| 1980s | 58.76 | 58.76 | 58.76 | 1 |
| 1990s | 59.55 | 46.61 | 66.7 | 4 |
| 2000s | 70.07 | 55.7 | 80 | 3 |
| 2010s | 61.39 | 50.74 | 74.6 | 6 |
| 2020s | 61.14 | 59.53 | 63.24 | 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 labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Zambia?
- Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Zambia was 63.24 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 80 in 2005.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.45 in 1969.
- How does Zambia rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Zambia ranks 98th out of 210 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) 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 International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.