Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Zambia
Zambia: Unemployment rate of men vs. women was 5.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Zambia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate of men vs. women in Zambia stood at 5.7%.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate of men vs. women in Zambia peaked at 18.9% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2017.
Zambia ranks 78th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 16.2% | — |
| 1992 | 17.8% | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 18.9% | +6.3% |
| 1994 | 18.0% | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 16.3% | -9.7% |
| 1996 | 14.8% | -8.8% |
| 1997 | 13.3% | -10.6% |
| 1998 | 12.4% | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 13.3% | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 14.2% | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 14.6% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 15.8% | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 16.4% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 16.8% | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 13.9% | -17.6% |
| 2007 | 11.0% | -21.1% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | -25.8% |
| 2009 | 10.8% | +32.8% |
| 2010 | 13.4% | +24.0% |
| 2011 | 10.6% | -20.5% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | -26.0% |
| 2013 | 7.2% | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 6.5% | -10.3% |
| 2015 | 5.8% | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | -12.9% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -14.8% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | +15.4% |
| 2019 | 5.8% | +16.3% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | -14.7% |
| 2022 | 5.7% | +20.3% |
| 2023 | 5.7% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 5.7% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 5.7% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.7% | 12.4% | 18.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 13.7% | 8.1% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.2% | 4.3% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 6 |
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 of men vs. women in Zambia?
- Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Zambia was 5.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2017.
- How does Zambia rank for unemployment rate of men vs. women?
- Zambia ranks 78th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate of men vs. women rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate of men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the male labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.