Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Zambia
Zambia: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 70.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Zambia, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Zambia stood at 70.2%.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Zambia peaked at 83.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 69.7%, in 2021.
That places Zambia 27th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 80.4% | — |
| 1992 | 80.6% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 80.9% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 81.1% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 81.4% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 81.5% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 81.6% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 81.9% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 82.2% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 82.3% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 82.5% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 82.7% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 82.8% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 82.9% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 83.0% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 82.9% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 82.9% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 82.8% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 81.4% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 79.9% | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 80.1% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 80.3% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 77.8% | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 75.4% | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 73.4% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 73.1% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 72.8% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 72.5% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 73.1% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 73.3% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 69.7% | -4.9% |
| 2022 | 70.9% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 70.7% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 70.5% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 70.2% | -0.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 70.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 70.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 81.3% | 80.4% | 82.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 82.6% | 81.4% | 83.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.8% | 72.5% | 80.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.9% | 69.7% | 73.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 24 Uganda 74.4% compare
- 25 India 71.6% compare
- 26 Papua New Guinea 71.2% compare
- 28 Cote d'Ivoire 69.4% compare
- 29 Bhutan 69.0% compare
- 30 Solomon Islands 68.7% 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Zambia?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Zambia was 70.2% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 83.0% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.7% in 2021.
- How does Zambia rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Zambia ranks 27th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).