LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Zambia
Zambia: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 16.19 in 2024. ▬ Flat
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Zambia, 2017–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2024, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Zambia stood at 16.19.
That represents a change of down 6.8% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
That places Zambia 14th out of 89 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 15.71 | — |
| 2018 | 18.39 | +17.1% |
| 2019 | 17.45 | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 16.38 | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 16.84 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 18.69 | +11.0% |
| 2023 | 17.38 | -7.0% |
| 2024 | 16.19 | -6.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 16.19 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.98, 2.0× the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 16.19 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.78, 86% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 17.18 | 15.71 | 18.39 | 3 |
| 2020s | 17.1 | 16.19 | 18.69 | 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 lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Zambia?
- Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Zambia was 16.19 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.69 in 2022.
- What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.71 in 2017.
- How does Zambia rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
- Zambia ranks 14th out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (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. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.