Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Zambia
Zambia: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 5.94 in 2027. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Zambia, 1991–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 5.94 for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in 2027.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Zambia peaked at 19.7 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4.53, in 2017.
That places Zambia 79th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.9 | — |
| 1992 | 19.57 | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 19.7 | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 18.69 | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 16.83 | -9.9% |
| 1996 | 15.3 | -9.1% |
| 1997 | 13.27 | -13.2% |
| 1998 | 12 | -9.6% |
| 1999 | 12.5 | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 12.93 | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 13.4 | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 14.13 | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 14.7 | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 15.33 | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 15.9 | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 13.23 | -16.8% |
| 2007 | 10.56 | -20.2% |
| 2008 | 7.93 | -24.9% |
| 2009 | 10.58 | +33.5% |
| 2010 | 13.19 | +24.6% |
| 2011 | 10.55 | -20.0% |
| 2012 | 7.85 | -25.6% |
| 2013 | 7.27 | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 6.58 | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 5.95 | -9.5% |
| 2016 | 5.24 | -11.9% |
| 2017 | 4.53 | -13.6% |
| 2018 | 5.03 | +11.1% |
| 2019 | 5.54 | +10.1% |
| 2020 | 6.03 | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 5.2 | -13.8% |
| 2022 | 5.99 | +15.3% |
| 2023 | 5.86 | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 5.9 | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 5.92 | +0.3% |
| 2026 | 5.92 | +0.1% |
| 2027 | 5.94 | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.31 | 12 | 19.7 | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.87 | 7.93 | 15.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.17 | 4.53 | 13.19 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.84 | 5.2 | 6.03 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More work & labour data for Zambia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5224 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.5281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.7611 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 25,577 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,424 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 32,895 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 31,579 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 64,474 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Zambia?
- Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Zambia was 5.94 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.7 in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.53 in 2017.
- How does Zambia rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Zambia ranks 79th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. 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 ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.