Zambia Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Zambia's unemployment rate was 5.92% in 2025, ranked 106th globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Zambia's unemployment rate stood at 5.92% in 2025, a rise of +0.02pp from 2024. Zambia ranked 106th globally.
Zambia’s unemployment rate has fallen dramatically over the 35‑year series, dropping from an early‑1990s high of 18.90 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 19.70 % in 1993 before reaching a trough of 4.53 % in 2017. By 2025 the rate stood at 5.92 %, placing the country 106th globally and virtually matching the contemporary levels of Belgium (5.91 %) and the European Union (5.93 %). The steep decline after the mid‑1990s reflects structural reforms, expanded mining activity and modest growth in services, while the modest rise since the 2017 trough coincides with slowing commodity prices and fiscal tightening. Despite the recent uptick, Zambia remains close to the low‑unemployment experience of Mauritius (5.63 %) and Brazil (5.97 %). Continued diversification of the economy and investment in vocational training could reinforce the downward trajectory and help sustain unemployment near the current low‑single‑digit range.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5.92% | +0.02pp | #106 |
| 2024 | 5.90% | +0.04pp | #113 |
| 2023 | 5.86% | −0.13pp | #113 |
| 2022 | 5.99% | +0.80pp | #111 |
| 2021 | 5.20% | −0.84pp | #80 |
| 2020 | 6.03% | +0.49pp | #91 |
| 2019 | 5.54% | +0.51pp | #102 |
| 2018 | 5.03% | +0.50pp | #88 |
| 2017 | 4.53% | −0.72pp | #73 |
| 2016 | 5.24% | −0.71pp | #84 |
| 2015 | 5.95% | −0.63pp | #91 |
| 2014 | 6.58% | −0.70pp | #96 |
| 2013 | 7.27% | −0.58pp | #105 |
| 2012 | 7.85% | −2.70pp | #112 |
| 2011 | 10.55% | −2.64pp | #139 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zambia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zambia's unemployment rate was 5.92% in 2025. Ranked 106th globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from the previous year.
Zambia's unemployment rate peaked at 19.70% in 1993.
The lowest unemployment rate in Zambia was 4.53% in 2017.
Zambia ranks 106th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Zambia in 2025 was 5.92%. This ranks 106th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zambia_unemployment-rate,
title = {Zambia Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zambia/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}