Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Zambia

Zambia: Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS was 5.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
5.7%
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
79th
of 189 countries
All-time high
15.9%
in 2005
All-time low
4.5%
in 2017
Years of data
14
2000–2024

Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Zambia, 2000–2024

57.51012.5152000201220242000: 12.9 %2005: 15.9 %2008: 7.9 %2010: 13.2 %2012: 7.8 %2015: 11.9 %2017: 4.5 %2018: 5 %2019: 5.5 %2020: 6 %2021: 5.2 %2022: 6 %2023: 5.9 %2024: 5.7 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Zambia is 5.7%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 52.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Zambia peaked at 15.9% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 2017.

Zambia ranks 79th of 189 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.

Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%) in Zambia, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 12.9%
2005 15.9% +23.0%
2008 7.9% -50.1%
2010 13.2% +66.3%
2012 7.8% -40.5%
2015 11.9% +51.5%
2017 4.5% -61.9%
2018 5.0% +11.0%
2019 5.5% +10.1%
2020 6.0% +8.8%
2021 5.2% -13.8%
2022 6.0% +15.2%
2023 5.9% -2.2%
2024 5.7% -3.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 12.3% 7.9% 15.9% 3
2010s 8.0% 4.5% 13.2% 6
2020s 5.8% 5.2% 6.0% 5

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 76 Azerbaijan 5.7% compare
  2. 77 Paraguay 5.7% compare
  3. 78 Afghanistan 5.7% compare
  4. 80 Puerto Rico 5.6% compare
  5. 81 Mali 5.5% compare
  6. 82 Kenya 5.4% compare

See the full ranking of 228 places →

More work & labour data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Zambia?
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls in Zambia was 5.7% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 15.9% in 2005.
What is the lowest unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 2017.
How does Zambia rank for unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls?
Zambia ranks 79th out of 189 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th icls 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 United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rate-by-sex-and-age-13th-icls-percent/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate, by sex and age - 13th ICLS (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
228 places, 4,321 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed