Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zambia
Zambia: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 10.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zambia, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zambia is 10.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and down 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zambia peaked at 34.7% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2017.
Zambia ranks 111th 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 33.6% | — |
| 1992 | 34.6% | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 34.7% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 32.8% | -5.7% |
| 1995 | 29.6% | -9.8% |
| 1996 | 26.8% | -9.2% |
| 1997 | 23.4% | -12.9% |
| 1998 | 21.0% | -10.0% |
| 1999 | 21.8% | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 22.5% | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 24.0% | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 26.0% | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 27.7% | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 29.6% | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 31.5% | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 26.8% | -14.9% |
| 2007 | 21.9% | -18.4% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | -23.2% |
| 2009 | 22.9% | +36.4% |
| 2010 | 29.2% | +27.4% |
| 2011 | 23.2% | -20.4% |
| 2012 | 17.2% | -26.1% |
| 2013 | 15.7% | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 14.0% | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 12.4% | -11.7% |
| 2016 | 10.5% | -15.0% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | -19.0% |
| 2018 | 8.7% | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 10.3% | +18.3% |
| 2020 | 11.0% | +6.7% |
| 2021 | 9.4% | -15.2% |
| 2022 | 9.8% | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 10.0% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 10.1% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 10.5% | +3.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 10.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.1%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 10.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.8%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.7% | 21.0% | 34.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 25.0% | 16.8% | 31.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.0% | 8.5% | 29.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.1% | 9.4% | 11.0% | 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zambia?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zambia was 10.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 34.7% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2017.
- How does Zambia rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Zambia ranks 111th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total 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.