SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Zambia
Zambia: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 5.67 in 2024. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Zambia, 2015–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 5.67 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in 2024.
The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 52.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Zambia peaked at 11.89 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 5.03, in 2018.
Zambia ranks 31st of 57 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 11.89 | — |
| 2018 | 5.03 | -57.7% |
| 2019 | 5.54 | +10.1% |
| 2020 | 6.03 | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 5.2 | -13.8% |
| 2022 | 5.99 | +15.3% |
| 2023 | 5.86 | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 5.67 | -3.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 5.67 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.41, 1.3× the median. (9 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 5.67 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.52, 1.0× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 7.49 | 5.03 | 11.89 | 3 |
| 2020s | 5.75 | 5.2 | 6.03 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 29 Senegal 5.78 compare
- 30 Belgium 5.69 compare
- 32 Luxembourg 5.49 compare
- 33 Costa Rica 5.42 compare
- 34 Mongolia 5.41 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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Zambia?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Zambia was 5.67 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.89 in 2015.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.03 in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
- Zambia ranks 31st out of 57 countries with data for 2024.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). 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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.