Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national was 15.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe, 1997–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe stood at 15.6%.
The figure is down 30.3% on the previous year and up 128.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe peaked at 22.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6.8%, in 2014.
Zimbabwe ranks 62nd of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages) … national in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 16.5% | — |
| 1999 | 14.0% | -15.1% |
| 2004 | 7.6% | -45.8% |
| 2011 | 8.7% | +14.8% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | -21.8% |
| 2019 | 11.9% | +73.6% |
| 2021 | 15.3% | +29.2% |
| 2022 | 17.4% | +13.3% |
| 2023 | 15.8% | -9.2% |
| 2024 | 22.4% | +41.9% |
| 2025 | 15.6% | -30.3% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 15.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.5%, 1.8× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 15.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.1%, 1.5× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.3% | 14.0% | 16.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 9.1% | 6.8% | 11.9% | 3 |
| 2020s | 17.3% | 15.3% | 22.4% | 5 |
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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Zimbabwe was 15.6% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 22.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.8% in 2014.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Zimbabwe ranks 62nd out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 128.2%. 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national 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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.