Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zambia
Zambia: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 5.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zambia, 1986–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 5.7% for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in 2024.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 52.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zambia peaked at 19.7% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4.5%, in 2017.
That places Zambia 86th out of 185 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.0% | 13.0% | 13.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 16.3% | 12.0% | 19.7% | 5 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 7.9% | 15.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 8.0% | 4.5% | 13.2% | 6 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 5.2% | 6.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 83 Senegal 5.8% compare
- 84 Azerbaijan 5.7% compare
- 85 Afghanistan 5.7% compare
- 87 Puerto Rico 5.6% compare
- 88 Kenya 5.6% compare
- 89 Guam 5.4% compare
- 89 Slovakia 5.4% compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.3261 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.5273 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -0.2981 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zambia?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zambia was 5.7% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.7% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.5% in 2017.
- How does Zambia rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Zambia ranks 86th out of 185 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.