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Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — Zambia

Employment-to-population ratio in Zambia in 2025 — 58.27%. Ranked 88 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 9.91 pp.

2025 58.27% +0.02 pp vs 2024
World rank 88of 182
Period maximum 58.33%2023
Period minimum 47.86%1993

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — Zambia, 1991–20254550556019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 48.36%1992: 47.95%1993: 47.86%1994: 48.46%1995: 49.57%1996: 50.49%1997: 51.7%1998: 52.45%1999: 52.14%2000: 51.85%2001: 51.52%2002: 51.04%2003: 50.66%2004: 50.25%2005: 49.87%2006: 51.42%2007: 52.96%2008: 54.47%2009: 52.86%2010: 51.27%2011: 52.79%2012: 54.34%2013: 54.63%2014: 54.97%2015: 55.27%2016: 55.6%2017: 55.92%2018: 55.53%2019: 56.25%2020: 57.2%2021: 56.98%2022: 55.96%2023: 58.33%2024: 58.25%2025: 58.27%
Change over the period: +9.91 pp Annual average: 0.29 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Zambia 58.27%
World 58.06%
Sub-Saharan Africa 66.33%
Eastern Africa computed 68.61%
Lower-middle-income countries computed 56.17%
Employment-to-population ratio — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 58.27 +0.02 pp
2024 58.25 −0.08 pp
2023 58.33 +2.37 pp
2022 55.96 −1.01 pp
2021 56.98 −0.23 pp
2020 57.2 +0.95 pp
2019 56.25 +0.71 pp
2018 55.53 −0.39 pp
2017 55.92 +0.33 pp
2016 55.6 +0.33 pp
2015 55.27 +0.29 pp
2014 54.97 +0.34 pp
2013 54.63 +0.29 pp
2012 54.34 +1.55 pp
2011 52.79 +1.52 pp
2010 51.27 −1.58 pp
2009 52.86 −1.62 pp
2008 54.47 +1.51 pp
2007 52.96 +1.54 pp
2006 51.42 +1.55 pp
2005 49.87 −0.37 pp
2004 50.25 −0.41 pp
2003 50.66 −0.38 pp
2002 51.04 −0.48 pp
2001 51.52 −0.33 pp
2000 51.85 −0.28 pp
1999 52.14 −0.31 pp
1998 52.45 +0.75 pp
1997 51.7 +1.21 pp
1996 50.49 +0.92 pp
1995 49.57 +1.11 pp
1994 48.46 +0.6 pp
1993 47.86 −0.09 pp
1992 47.95 −0.41 pp
1991 48.36 —

Eastern Africa, 2025

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

MG Madagascar 82.9 TZ Tanzania 82.4 UG Uganda 77.83 BI Burundi 77.53 ER Eritrea 73.66 MZ Mozambique 73.49 ET Ethiopia 66.19 KE Kenya 63.71 ZW Zimbabwe 61.42 MW Malawi 59.4 ZM Zambia 58.27 RW Rwanda 56.45 MU Mauritius 55.25 KM Comoros 53.64 SO Somalia 27.43 DJ Djibouti 23.49
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

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

Other indicators for Zambia

Labor Labor productivity

How much output one employed person creates in a year — in constant PPP dollars.

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 Labor force participation rate

What share of the population aged 15 and over works or looks for work.

Zambia by year Labor Self-employed

The share of workers who work for themselves — from entrepreneurs to the informally employed.

Zambia by year
All indicators for Zambia