Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) was 9.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Zimbabwe, 1982–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Zimbabwe is 9.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 23.4% on the previous year and up 105.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Zimbabwe peaked at 12.1% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2004.
That places Zimbabwe 33rd out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 10.8% | — |
| 1987 | 6.5% | -39.7% |
| 1994 | 6.8% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 8.7% | +29.1% |
| 1999 | 7.3% | -16.6% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | -41.4% |
| 2011 | 4.7% | +10.9% |
| 2012 | 12.1% | +155.6% |
| 2014 | 4.4% | -63.9% |
| 2019 | 7.8% | +78.0% |
| 2021 | 9.1% | +17.8% |
| 2022 | 9.6% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 9.1% | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 11.7% | +28.1% |
| 2025 | 9.0% | -23.4% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 9.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.8%, 2.3× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 9.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.0%, 2.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.7% | 6.5% | 10.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.6% | 6.8% | 8.7% | 3 |
| 2000s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 4.4% | 12.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 9.7% | 9.0% | 11.7% | 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, male (% of male labor force) in Zimbabwe?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Zimbabwe was 9.0% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 12.1% in 2012.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2004.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Zimbabwe ranks 33rd out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 105.5%. 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, male (% of male 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.