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Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Zambia

Labor force participation rate in Zambia in 2025 — 61.93%. Ranked 89 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 2.28 pp.

2025 61.93% +0.03 pp vs 2024
World rank 89of 182
Period maximum 61.96%2023
Period minimum 58.48%2018

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Zambia, 1990–2025585960616219901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 59.65%1991: 59.63%1992: 59.61%1993: 59.6%1994: 59.6%1995: 59.61%1996: 59.61%1997: 59.61%1998: 59.6%1999: 59.58%2000: 59.55%2001: 59.5%2002: 59.44%2003: 59.39%2004: 59.35%2005: 59.3%2006: 59.26%2007: 59.21%2008: 59.16%2009: 59.11%2010: 59.06%2011: 59.02%2012: 58.97%2013: 58.91%2014: 58.84%2015: 58.76%2016: 58.67%2017: 58.58%2018: 58.48%2019: 59.54%2020: 60.87%2021: 60.1%2022: 59.53%2023: 61.96%2024: 61.9%2025: 61.93%
Change over the period: +2.28 pp Annual average: 0.07 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Zambia 61.93%
World 60.98%
Sub-Saharan Africa 70.32%
Eastern Africa computed 71.67%
Lower-middle-income countries computed 58.73%
Labor force participation rate — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 61.93 +0.03 pp
2024 61.9 −0.06 pp
2023 61.96 +2.43 pp
2022 59.53 −0.57 pp
2021 60.1 −0.77 pp
2020 60.87 +1.33 pp
2019 59.54 +1.07 pp
2018 58.48 −0.1 pp
2017 58.58 −0.1 pp
2016 58.67 −0.09 pp
2015 58.76 −0.08 pp
2014 58.84 −0.07 pp
2013 58.91 −0.06 pp
2012 58.97 −0.05 pp
2011 59.02 −0.04 pp
2010 59.06 −0.05 pp
2009 59.11 −0.05 pp
2008 59.16 −0.05 pp
2007 59.21 −0.05 pp
2006 59.26 −0.05 pp
2005 59.3 −0.04 pp
2004 59.35 −0.05 pp
2003 59.39 −0.05 pp
2002 59.44 −0.06 pp
2001 59.5 −0.05 pp
2000 59.55 −0.03 pp
1999 59.58 −0.02 pp
1998 59.6 −0.01 pp
1997 59.61 −0 pp
1996 59.61 +0.01 pp
1995 59.61 +0.01 pp
1994 59.6 −0 pp
1993 59.6 −0.01 pp
1992 59.61 −0.02 pp
1991 59.63 −0.02 pp
1990 59.65 —

Eastern Africa, 2025

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

MG Madagascar 85.5 TZ Tanzania 83.72 UG Uganda 80.03 MZ Mozambique 78.71 ER Eritrea 78.35 BI Burundi 78.26 ET Ethiopia 68.46 ZW Zimbabwe 67.72 KE Kenya 67.39 RW Rwanda 63.68 MW Malawi 62.58 ZM Zambia 61.93 MU Mauritius 58.55 KM Comoros 55.77 SO Somalia 33.85 DJ Djibouti 31.74
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

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

Other indicators for Zambia

Labor Female labor force participation rate

The share of women aged 15 and over who work or look for work — the main indicator of access to employment.

Zambia by year Labor Labor force

The number of people employed or actively looking for work — the economically active population.

Zambia by year Labor Employment-to-population ratio

The share of the population aged 15 and over that actually works.

Zambia by year Demography Age dependency ratio

How many dependents — children and older people — there are per 100 people of working age.

Zambia by year
All indicators for Zambia