Zambia Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) SL.UEM.1524.ZS
Overview
Zambia's youth unemployment stood at 10.47% in 2025, a rise of +0.37pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 10.70% by 2026. Zambia ranked 75th globally.
Data & projection
| Year | Youth Unemployment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 11.20% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 10.95% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 10.70% | - | - |
| 2025 | 10.47% | +0.37pp | #75 |
| 2024 | 10.10% | +0.06pp | #71 |
| 2023 | 10.04% | +0.19pp | #70 |
| 2022 | 9.85% | +0.48pp | #63 |
| 2021 | 9.36% | −1.68pp | #51 |
| 2020 | 11.04% | +0.69pp | #60 |
| 2019 | 10.35% | +1.60pp | #75 |
| 2018 | 8.75% | +0.23pp | #59 |
| 2017 | 8.51% | −1.99pp | #53 |
| 2016 | 10.51% | −1.86pp | #66 |
| 2015 | 12.36% | −1.64pp | #81 |
| 2014 | 14.00% | −1.71pp | #88 |
| 2013 | 15.71% | −1.45pp | #95 |
| 2012 | 17.16% | −6.06pp | #103 |
| 2011 | 23.22% | −5.95pp | #138 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zambia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw youth unemployment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zambia's youth unemployment was 10.47% in 2025. Ranked 75th globally. This represents a 3.6% increase from the previous year.
Zambia's youth unemployment peaked at 34.74% in 1993.
The lowest youth unemployment in Zambia was 8.51% in 2017.
Zambia ranks 75th globally in youth unemployment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.1524.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Zambia's youth unemployment is projected to reach 10.70% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The youth unemployment of Zambia in 2025 was 10.47%. This ranks 75th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zambia_youth-unemployment,
title = {Zambia Youth Unemployment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zambia/youth-unemployment},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}