Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Zambia
Zambia: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 8.8% in 2015. ▲ Rising
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Zambia, 2002–2015
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for public sector employment as a share of total employment in Zambia is 8.8%, measured in 2015. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 23.0% on the previous year and up 40.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Zambia peaked at 8.8% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 2008.
Zambia ranks 62nd of 79 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 5.7% | — |
| 2004 | 6.2% | +10.1% |
| 2008 | 5.1% | -17.7% |
| 2010 | 7.4% | +43.8% |
| 2012 | 5.6% | -24.1% |
| 2014 | 7.1% | +27.5% |
| 2015 | 8.8% | +23.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.7% | 5.1% | 6.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 5.6% | 8.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 59 Paraguay 9.6% compare
- 60 Philippines 9.1% compare
- 61 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 8.9% compare
- 63 Afghanistan 8.7% compare
- 64 Morocco 8.6% compare
- 65 El Salvador 8.5% 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 public sector employment as a share of total employment in Zambia?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Zambia was 8.8% in 2015, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.8% in 2015.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 2008.
- How does Zambia rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- Zambia ranks 62nd out of 79 countries with data for 2015.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.