Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 15.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Zimbabwe recorded 15.0% for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 109.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe peaked at 19.0% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 6.0%, in 2014.
Zimbabwe ranks 75th of 187 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 13.8% | — |
| 1992 | 14.6% | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 15.2% | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 15.1% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 16.4% | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 17.5% | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 19.0% | +9.0% |
| 1998 | 17.0% | -11.0% |
| 1999 | 15.3% | -9.7% |
| 2000 | 13.7% | -10.5% |
| 2001 | 12.0% | -12.5% |
| 2002 | 10.4% | -13.1% |
| 2003 | 8.9% | -14.7% |
| 2004 | 7.2% | -19.5% |
| 2005 | 7.3% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 7.4% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 7.6% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | +5.6% |
| 2009 | 8.1% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 8.0% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 7.1% | -9.2% |
| 2013 | 6.6% | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | -9.2% |
| 2015 | 7.1% | +18.7% |
| 2016 | 8.1% | +14.0% |
| 2017 | 9.1% | +11.7% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | +10.2% |
| 2019 | 11.1% | +10.9% |
| 2020 | 13.2% | +19.1% |
| 2021 | 14.3% | +8.0% |
| 2022 | 16.3% | +14.1% |
| 2023 | 14.4% | -11.4% |
| 2024 | 14.5% | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 15.0% | +3.2% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 15.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.6%, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 15.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.0%, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.0% | 13.8% | 19.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.1% | 7.2% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.1% | 6.0% | 11.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 13.2% | 16.3% | 6 |
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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe was 15.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 19.0% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.0% in 2014.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Zimbabwe ranks 75th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 109.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.