Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate was 40.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
40.5%
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
184th
of 236 countries
All-time high
40.5%
in 2025
All-time low
10.7%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe stood at 40.5%. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe peaked at 40.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 1950.
Zimbabwe ranks 184th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10.7% | — |
| 1951 | 10.8% | +0.6% |
| 1952 | 10.8% | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 10.9% | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 11.0% | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 11.2% | +1.5% |
| 1956 | 11.4% | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 11.6% | +2.0% |
| 1958 | 11.9% | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 12.2% | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 12.5% | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 12.8% | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 13.1% | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 13.5% | +3.0% |
| 1964 | 14.0% | +3.7% |
| 1965 | 14.5% | +4.1% |
| 1966 | 15.1% | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 15.8% | +4.1% |
| 1968 | 16.4% | +3.8% |
| 1969 | 16.9% | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 17.4% | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 17.9% | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 18.4% | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 18.9% | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 19.4% | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 19.8% | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 20.3% | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 20.8% | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 21.3% | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 21.8% | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 22.3% | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 22.9% | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 23.5% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 24.1% | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 24.8% | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 25.6% | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 26.5% | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 27.3% | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 28.1% | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 28.9% | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 29.6% | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 30.2% | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 30.6% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 30.9% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 31.2% | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 31.4% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 31.7% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 31.9% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 32.1% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 32.3% | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 32.4% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 32.5% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 32.6% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 32.6% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 32.6% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 32.6% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 32.7% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 32.7% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 32.7% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 32.7% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 32.7% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 32.8% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 32.8% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 32.9% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 33.2% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 33.6% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 34.1% | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 34.7% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 35.4% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 36.2% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 37.0% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 37.9% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 38.7% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 39.3% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 39.9% | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 40.5% | +1.5% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 40.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.9%, 80% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 40.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 11.3% | 10.7% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 1960s | 14.4% | 12.5% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 19.6% | 17.4% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.4% | 22.3% | 28.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.2% | 29.6% | 32.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.6% | 32.4% | 32.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.8% | 32.7% | 36.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.9% | 37.0% | 40.5% | 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 urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe?
- Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate in Zimbabwe was 40.5% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 40.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population vs. female labor force participation rate recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 1950.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for urban population vs. female labor force participation rate?
- Zimbabwe ranks 184th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population vs. female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban population vs. female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.