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Female labor force participation rate — all countries

Female labor force participation rate — Zambia

Female labor force participation rate in Zambia in 2025 — 56.43%. Ranked 73 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 5.43 pp.

2025 56.43% +0.06 pp vs 2024
World rank 73of 182
Period maximum 56.43%2025
Period minimum 51%1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of women aged 15+

Female labor force participation rate — Zambia, 1990–2025505254565819901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 51%1991: 51.03%1992: 51.06%1993: 51.08%1994: 51.1%1995: 51.1%1996: 51.09%1997: 51.1%1998: 51.1%1999: 51.11%2000: 51.13%2001: 51.16%2002: 51.2%2003: 51.23%2004: 51.26%2005: 51.28%2006: 51.31%2007: 51.34%2008: 51.37%2009: 51.41%2010: 51.45%2011: 51.5%2012: 51.55%2013: 51.61%2014: 51.69%2015: 51.79%2016: 51.89%2017: 52.01%2018: 52.14%2019: 52.17%2020: 54.41%2021: 54.12%2022: 53.97%2023: 56.36%2024: 56.37%2025: 56.43%
Change over the period: +5.43 pp Annual average: 0.16 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Zambia 56.43%
World 48.94%
Sub-Saharan Africa 65.16%
Eastern Africa computed 65.83%
Lower-middle-income countries computed 40.51%
Female labor force participation rate — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 56.43 +0.06 pp
2024 56.37 +0.01 pp
2023 56.36 +2.39 pp
2022 53.97 −0.15 pp
2021 54.12 −0.28 pp
2020 54.41 +2.23 pp
2019 52.17 +0.03 pp
2018 52.14 +0.13 pp
2017 52.01 +0.12 pp
2016 51.89 +0.11 pp
2015 51.79 +0.1 pp
2014 51.69 +0.08 pp
2013 51.61 +0.06 pp
2012 51.55 +0.05 pp
2011 51.5 +0.04 pp
2010 51.45 +0.04 pp
2009 51.41 +0.04 pp
2008 51.37 +0.03 pp
2007 51.34 +0.03 pp
2006 51.31 +0.03 pp
2005 51.28 +0.02 pp
2004 51.26 +0.03 pp
2003 51.23 +0.03 pp
2002 51.2 +0.04 pp
2001 51.16 +0.03 pp
2000 51.13 +0.02 pp
1999 51.11 +0.01 pp
1998 51.1 +0.01 pp
1997 51.1 +0 pp
1996 51.09 −0 pp
1995 51.1 +0 pp
1994 51.1 +0.01 pp
1993 51.08 +0.02 pp
1992 51.06 +0.03 pp
1991 51.03 +0.03 pp
1990 51 —

Eastern Africa, 2025

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

MG Madagascar 82.91 TZ Tanzania 80.28 BI Burundi 79.5 MZ Mozambique 77.09 UG Uganda 75.6 ER Eritrea 72.84 KE Kenya 63.04 ZW Zimbabwe 62.16 ET Ethiopia 58.46 MW Malawi 58.18 RW Rwanda 57.3 ZM Zambia 56.43 KM Comoros 47.65 MU Mauritius 47.46 SO Somalia 20.7 DJ Djibouti 19.37
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of women aged 15 and over who belong to the labor force. The spread across countries runs from under 10% to over 80%, and it is one of the strongest dividing lines between socioeconomic models. Historically the rate rose together with falling fertility and wider access to education.

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

Other indicators for Zambia

Labor Female share of the labor force

What part of the labor force of a country is made up of women.

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 Female unemployment

The unemployment rate of the female part of the labor force.

Zambia by year Demography Total fertility rate

How many children one woman would bear on average if current age-specific fertility held.

Zambia by year
All indicators for Zambia