Unemployment in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Unemployment was 687.88 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Unemployment in Zimbabwe, 2014–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 687.88 for unemployment in 2024. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.6% on the previous year and up 119.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment in Zimbabwe peaked at 687.88 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 314.1, in 2014.
Zimbabwe ranks 14th of 58 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Unemployment in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 314.1 | — |
| 2019 | 393.02 | +25.1% |
| 2021 | 554.68 | +41.1% |
| 2022 | 600 | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 565.88 | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 687.88 | +21.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 687.88 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 354.49, 1.9× the median. (10 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 687.88 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 363.63, 1.9× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 353.56 | 314.1 | 393.02 | 2 |
| 2020s | 602.11 | 554.68 | 687.88 | 4 |
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 in Zimbabwe?
- Unemployment in Zimbabwe was 687.88 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 687.88 in 2024.
- What is the lowest unemployment recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 314.1 in 2014.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for unemployment?
- Zimbabwe ranks 14th out of 58 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 119.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. 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 Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.