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Employment in services — all countries

Employment in services — Zambia

Employment in services in Zambia in 2025 — 35.2%. Ranked 161 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 17 pp.

2025 35.2% +0.5 pp vs 2024
World rank 161of 182
Period maximum 35.2%2025
Period minimum 16.8%2005

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Employment in services — Zambia, 1991–202515202530354019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 18.2%1992: 18%1993: 17.9%1994: 18.6%1995: 18.6%1996: 18.9%1997: 19%1998: 18.9%1999: 18.8%2000: 19.1%2001: 18.4%2002: 17.8%2003: 17.3%2004: 17%2005: 16.8%2006: 16.9%2007: 17.1%2008: 17.2%2009: 19.6%2010: 22.4%2011: 25.2%2012: 28.6%2013: 28.5%2014: 28.6%2015: 28.9%2016: 29.2%2017: 29.4%2018: 30.3%2019: 33.5%2020: 32.2%2021: 32%2022: 34.2%2023: 34.1%2024: 34.7%2025: 35.2%
Change over the period: +17 pp Annual average: 0.5 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Zambia

Zambia 35.2%
World 50.6%
Sub-Saharan Africa 38.5%
Eastern Africa computed 30.9%
Lower-middle-income countries computed 39%
Employment in services — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 35.2 +0.5 pp
2024 34.7 +0.6 pp
2023 34.1 −0.1 pp
2022 34.2 +2.2 pp
2021 32 −0.2 pp
2020 32.2 −1.3 pp
2019 33.5 +3.3 pp
2018 30.3 +0.9 pp
2017 29.4 +0.2 pp
2016 29.2 +0.2 pp
2015 28.9 +0.3 pp
2014 28.6 +0.2 pp
2013 28.5 −0.1 pp
2012 28.6 +3.3 pp
2011 25.2 +2.9 pp
2010 22.4 +2.7 pp
2009 19.6 +2.4 pp
2008 17.2 +0.1 pp
2007 17.1 +0.1 pp
2006 16.9 +0.1 pp
2005 16.8 −0.2 pp
2004 17 −0.3 pp
2003 17.3 −0.4 pp
2002 17.8 −0.6 pp
2001 18.4 −0.7 pp
2000 19.1 +0.3 pp
1999 18.8 −0.1 pp
1998 18.9 −0.1 pp
1997 19 +0.1 pp
1996 18.9 +0.2 pp
1995 18.6 +0.1 pp
1994 18.6 +0.7 pp
1993 17.9 −0.1 pp
1992 18 −0.2 pp
1991 18.2 —

Eastern Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

DJ Djibouti 92.2 MU Mauritius 74.7 SO Somalia 52.2 KM Comoros 51.6 RW Rwanda 46.5 KE Kenya 41.7 ZM Zambia 35.2 ZW Zimbabwe 34.2 ET Ethiopia 33.4 ER Eritrea 31.8 UG Uganda 27.9 MW Malawi 27.7 TZ Tanzania 27.3 MG Madagascar 20.9 MZ Mozambique 20.6 BI Burundi 11.6
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of total employment in the service sector: trade, transport, communications, finance, business services, public administration, education, health care. In high-income countries it exceeds 70–80%; the rise of this share is the main line of structural change in labor markets over the past half century.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for Zambia

Economy Services share of GDP

The contribution of trade, transport, finance, IT and public administration to value added.

Zambia by year Labor Employment in industry

The share of workers employed in mining, manufacturing, utilities and construction.

Zambia by year Labor Employment in agriculture

The share of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Zambia by year Labor Unemployment rate

The share of the labor force that is looking for work and available to start.

Zambia by year Labor Youth unemployment

The unemployment rate at ages 15–24 — almost always two to three times the overall rate.

Zambia by year
All indicators for Zambia