Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 12.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zimbabwe, 1982–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zimbabwe stood at 12.1%. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.6% on the previous year and up 154.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zimbabwe peaked at 12.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.4%, in 2004.
That places Zimbabwe 17th out of 185 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 10.8% | — |
| 1987 | 7.2% | -33.5% |
| 1994 | 5.0% | -30.9% |
| 1997 | 6.9% | +39.8% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | -13.5% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | -26.8% |
| 2011 | 5.4% | +22.2% |
| 2012 | 11.1% | +106.2% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | -56.9% |
| 2019 | 7.4% | +54.4% |
| 2021 | 9.5% | +28.3% |
| 2022 | 10.0% | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 9.3% | -7.1% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | +30.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 12.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 2.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 12.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 2.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.0% | 7.2% | 10.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 5.0% | 6.9% | 3 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 7.1% | 4.8% | 11.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 10.2% | 9.3% | 12.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More reference data data for Zimbabwe
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 58,959 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2024)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 122.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 11,077 2010 = 100 (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zimbabwe?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Zimbabwe was 12.1% 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 12.1% in 2024.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.4% in 2004.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Zimbabwe ranks 17th out of 185 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 154.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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 — 14 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.