Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) was 9.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Zimbabwe, 1982–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Zimbabwe is 9.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 25.6% on the previous year and up 81.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Zimbabwe peaked at 12.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 1994.
That places Zimbabwe 49th out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 11.1% | — |
| 1987 | 7.9% | -28.7% |
| 1994 | 3.0% | -62.2% |
| 1997 | 5.1% | +69.1% |
| 1999 | 4.6% | -8.6% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 6.0% | +32.3% |
| 2012 | 9.9% | +64.9% |
| 2014 | 5.2% | -47.6% |
| 2019 | 7.0% | +35.1% |
| 2021 | 9.8% | +40.1% |
| 2022 | 10.5% | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 9.5% | -9.6% |
| 2024 | 12.6% | +33.2% |
| 2025 | 9.4% | -25.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 9.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.7%, 1.6× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 9.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.0%, 1.6× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.5% | 7.9% | 11.1% | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.2% | 3.0% | 5.1% | 3 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.0% | 5.2% | 9.9% | 4 |
| 2020s | 10.3% | 9.4% | 12.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More work & labour data for Zimbabwe
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1887 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1727 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2032 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0937 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.81 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 13,627 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16,032 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 19,130 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 18,036 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 37,167 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Zimbabwe?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Zimbabwe was 9.4% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 12.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 1994.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Zimbabwe ranks 49th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.