Zambia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
In , Zambia's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 5.92.
That's up 0.3% from 2024, the highest value since .
The global average for this indicator in 2025 was 6.73 . Zambia ranks #75 globally out of 182 reporting countries. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #20 of 45.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS) • Data as of 2025
Trend (2006–2025)
- 2008 · Global financial crisis
- 2020 · COVID-19 pandemic
Highlights
- Peak
- 13.23
- Trough
- 4.53
- 1-year change
- +0.3%
- 5-year change
- -1.9%
- -0.4% / yr
- 10-year change
- -0.6%
- -0.1% / yr
Historical Data — Last 10 Years
| Year | Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) |
|---|---|
| 5.9180 | |
| 5.8980 | |
| 5.8610 | |
| 5.9930 | |
| 5.1970 | |
| 6.0320 | |
| 5.5380 | |
| 5.0320 | |
| 4.5290 | |
| 5.2440 |
About Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Indicator code: SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS • Category: Labor & Business
Frequently asked questions
- What was Zambia's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025?
- In 2025, Zambia's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 5.92, according to World Bank Open Data.
- Is Zambia's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rising or falling?
- Zambia's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) rose 0.3% from 2024 to 2025.
- How does Zambia rank globally on Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate)?
- In 2025, Zambia ranked #75 out of 182 countries reporting Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate).
- How does Zambia's Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) compare to the world average?
- The global average for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in 2025 was 6.73, so Zambia is below the world average. Within Sub-Saharan Africa, it ranks #20 of 45.
- What is Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) and how is it measured?
- Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
Source: World Bank Open Data (SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS), CC BY 4.0.