Unemployment rate in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Unemployment rate was 24.46 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate in Zimbabwe, 2019–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Zimbabwe is 24.46, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 11.6% on the previous year and up 45.1% over ten years.
Zimbabwe ranks 2nd of 41 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Unemployment rate in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 16.86 | — |
| 2021 | 19.48 | +15.5% |
| 2022 | 20.08 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 21.91 | +9.1% |
| 2024 | 24.46 | +11.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 24.46 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.89, 1.9× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 16.86 | 16.86 | 16.86 | 1 |
| 2020s | 21.48 | 19.48 | 24.46 | 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 rate in Zimbabwe?
- Unemployment rate in Zimbabwe was 24.46 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 24.46 in 2024.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.86 in 2019.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for unemployment rate?
- Zimbabwe ranks 2nd out of 41 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.1%. 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 rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
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 includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). 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. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.