SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Zambia
Zambia: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) was 12.89 in 2024. ▲ Rising
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Zambia, 2017–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2024, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Zambia stood at 12.89.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.8% on the previous year and up 5.9% over ten years.
That places Zambia 6th out of 74 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 12.17 | — |
| 2018 | 10.86 | -10.8% |
| 2019 | 12.51 | +15.3% |
| 2020 | 13.77 | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 12.47 | -9.4% |
| 2022 | 12.64 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 11.96 | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 12.89 | +7.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 12.89 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.33, 1.1× the median. (5 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 12.89 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.65, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 11.85 | 10.86 | 12.51 | 3 |
| 2020s | 12.75 | 11.96 | 13.77 | 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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Zambia?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Zambia was 12.89 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.77 in 2020.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.86 in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition)?
- Zambia ranks 6th out of 74 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.9%. 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 SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.