ILO estimate of the unemployment rate in Zambia
The ILO estimates the unemployment rate in Zambia at 5.9% in 2025.
Zambia, 2025
5.9%
Change from 2024
0percentage points
World, 2025
4.9%
Position in 2025
74th of 181
ILO estimate of the unemployment rate in Zambia over time
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Zambia
World
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of the labour force aged 15 and over. Source: ILO, ILOSTAT (ILO Modelled Estimates). Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years. Dashed lines are projections.
| Period | Zambia | World |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.9% | 4.9% |
| 2024 | 5.9% | 4.9% |
| 2023 | 5.9% | 4.9% |
| 2022 | 6.0% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 5.2% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | 6.6% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | 5.8% |
| 2017 | 4.5% | 5.9% |
| 2016 | 5.2% | 6.0% |
Flags: f Projection . A dash means no value was published.
In short
- That is a change of 0 percentage points from 5.9% in 2024.
- Since 2015, when it was 6.0%, the figure has changed by 0 percentage points.
- Among the 181 countries with data for 2025, Zambia has the 74th highest value.
- The figure for the world in 2025 was 4.9%.
More for Zambia
All statistics for Zambia
ILO estimate of youth unemployment
10.5%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Labour force participation
61.9%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Women's labour force participation
56.4%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Employment-to-population ratio
58.3%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Employment in agriculture
54.5%
2025 · World Bank
Employment in industry
10.3%
2025 · World Bank