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Zambia Labor Force Participation

Labor force participation rate  SL.TLF.CACT.ZS

61.93% +0.03pp (+0.1%)
Year 2025 Rank #88 Global Peak 61.96% (2023) Source World Bank

Zambia Labor Force Participation (1990–2025)

Overview

Zambia's labor force participation stood at 61.93% in 2025, a rise of +0.03pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 62.90% by 2026. Zambia ranked 88th globally.

Data & projection

Year Labor Force Participation YoY change Rank
2028* trend 64.10% - -
2027* trend 63.50% - -
2026* trend 62.90% - -
2025 61.93% +0.03pp #88
2024 61.90% −0.06pp #89
2023 61.96% +2.43pp #90
2022 59.53% −0.57pp #109
2021 60.10% −0.77pp #99
2020 60.87% +1.33pp #87
2019 59.54% +1.07pp #110
2018 58.48% −0.10pp #123
2017 58.58% −0.10pp #121
2016 58.67% −0.09pp #117
2015 58.76% −0.08pp #118
2014 58.84% −0.07pp #118
2013 58.91% −0.06pp #118
2012 58.97% −0.05pp #116
2011 59.02% −0.04pp #116
Show all years (1990-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +128.8% GDP growth 6.2% C/A balance 11.9%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Zambia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zambia's labor force participation?

Zambia's labor force participation was 61.93% in 2025. Ranked 88th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from the previous year.

What was the highest labor force participation in Zambia?

Zambia's labor force participation peaked at 61.96% in 2023.

What was the lowest labor force participation in Zambia?

The lowest labor force participation in Zambia was 58.48% in 2018.

How does Zambia rank in labor force participation?

Zambia ranks 88th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for labor force participation?

The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected labor force participation of Zambia in 2026?

Zambia's labor force participation is projected to reach 62.90% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the labor force participation of Zambia in 2025?

The labor force participation of Zambia in 2025 was 61.93%. This ranks 88th in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Zambia Labor Force Participation. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 2, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/zambia/labor-force-participation
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_zambia_labor-force-participation, title = {Zambia Labor Force Participation}, url = {https://historysaid.com/zambia/labor-force-participation}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }