Unemployment with basic education in Zambia
Zambia: Unemployment with basic education was 3.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment with basic education in Zambia, 2015–2024
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total labor force with basic education.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 3.6% for unemployment with basic education in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 74.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment with basic education in Zambia peaked at 14.3% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2017.
Zambia ranks 91st of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6.6% | 3.1% | 14.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 3.6% | 4.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More work & labour data for Zambia
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 83.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 62.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 67.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 36.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 34.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 39.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment with basic education in Zambia?
- Unemployment with basic education in Zambia was 3.6% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment with basic education recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.3% in 2015.
- What is the lowest unemployment with basic education recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2017.
- How does Zambia rank for unemployment with basic education?
- Zambia ranks 91st out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment with basic education rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 74.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with basic education (% of total labor force with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).