Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 12.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zimbabwe, 1982–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zimbabwe is 12.1%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is up 30.6% on the previous year and up 154.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zimbabwe peaked at 12.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.4%, in 2004.
Zimbabwe ranks 17th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 10.8% | — |
| 1987 | 7.2% | -33.5% |
| 1994 | 5.0% | -30.9% |
| 1997 | 6.9% | +39.8% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | -13.5% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | -26.8% |
| 2011 | 5.4% | +22.2% |
| 2012 | 11.1% | +106.2% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | -56.9% |
| 2019 | 7.4% | +54.4% |
| 2021 | 9.5% | +28.3% |
| 2022 | 10.0% | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 9.3% | -7.1% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | +30.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.0% | 7.2% | 10.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 5.0% | 6.9% | 3 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.1% | 4.8% | 11.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 10.2% | 9.3% | 12.1% | 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, total (% of total labor force) in Zimbabwe?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Zimbabwe was 12.1% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 12.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.4% in 2004.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Zimbabwe ranks 17th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 154.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.