Female share of the labor force in Zambia
Zambia: Female share of the labor force was 46.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Female share of the labor force in Zambia, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female share of the labor force in Zambia stood at 46.3%. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female share of the labor force in Zambia peaked at 46.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 44.6%, in 2019.
That places Zambia 82nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Female share of the labor force in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 45.0% | — |
| 1991 | 45.1% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 45.2% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 45.3% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 45.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 45.4% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 45.5% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 45.5% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 45.4% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 45.4% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 45.4% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 45.3% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 45.2% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 45.1% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 45.1% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 45.0% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 44.9% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 44.8% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 44.7% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 44.6% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 44.6% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 44.6% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 44.7% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 44.7% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 44.8% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 44.9% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 45.1% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 45.2% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 45.4% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 44.6% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 45.5% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 45.8% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 46.1% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 46.3% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 46.3% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 46.3% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.3% | 45.0% | 45.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.0% | 44.6% | 45.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.9% | 44.6% | 45.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.0% | 45.5% | 46.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 79 Burkina Faso 46.5% compare
- 80 Haiti 46.5% compare
- 81 Germany 46.5% compare
- 83 Saint Lucia 46.3% compare
- 84 New Caledonia 46.2% compare
- 85 Jamaica 46.1% compare
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 female share of the labor force in Zambia?
- Female share of the labor force in Zambia was 46.3% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female share of the labor force recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 46.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female share of the labor force recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.6% in 2019.
- How does Zambia rank for female share of the labor force?
- Zambia ranks 82nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female share of the labor 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 and UN Population Division, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female share of the labor force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population economically active (employed or unemployed) who are female.