The unemployment rate in Zimbabwe was 8.55 percent in 2024. Between 1991 and 2024, the unemployment rate rose by 3.74 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Unemployment Rate in Zimbabwe decreased to 8.60 percent in 2024 from 8.80 percent in 2023. This dataset provides - Zimbabwe Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Zimbabwe (SLUEM1524ZSZWE) from 1991 to 2024 about Zimbabwe, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Zimbabwe was reported at 8.554 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zimbabwe - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

The youth unemployment rate in Zimbabwe stood at 13.99 percent in 2024. Between 1991 and 2024, the youth unemployment rate rose by 3.32 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Zimbabwe: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2024 is 8.55 percent, a decline from 8.76 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.80 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Zimbabwe from 1991 to 2024 is 6 percent. The minimum value, 4.39 percent, was reached in 2004 while the maximum of 10.09 percent was recorded in 2022.

Historical dataset showing Zimbabwe unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Zimbabwe was reported at 8.587 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zimbabwe - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Zimbabwe was reported at 8.521 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zimbabwe - Unemployment, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

South Africa is expected to register the highest unemployment rate in Africa in 2024, with around ** percent of the country's labor force being unemployed. Djibouti and Eswatini followed, with unemployment reaching roughly ** percent and ** percent, respectively. On the other hand, the lowest unemployment rates in Africa were in Niger and Burundi. The continent’s average stood at roughly ***** percent in the same year. Large shares of youth among the unemployed Due to several educational, socio-demographic, and economic factors, the young population is more likely to face unemployment in most regions of the world. In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in Africa was projected at around ** percent. The situation was particularly critical in certain countries. In 2022, Djibouti recorded a youth unemployment rate of almost ** percent, the highest rate on the continent. South Africa followed, with around ** percent of the young labor force being unemployed. Wide disparities in female unemployment Women are another demographic group often facing high unemployment. In Africa, the female unemployment rate stood at roughly ***** percent in 2023, compared to *** percent among men. The average female unemployment on the continent was not particularly high. However, there were significant disparities among African countries. Djibouti and South Africa topped the ranking once again in 2022, with female unemployment rates of around ** percent and ** percent, respectively. In contrast, Niger, Burundi, and Chad were far below Africa’s average, as only roughly *** percent or lower of the women in the labor force were unemployed.

Historical dataset showing Zimbabwe youth unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data was reported at 11.386 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.414 % for 2016. Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 11.355 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.336 % in 1997 and a record low of 7.397 % in 2004. Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Zimbabwe was reported at 15.38 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zimbabwe - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Basic Education: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 5.850 % in 2011. Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Basic Education: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 5.850 % from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2011, with 1 observations. Zimbabwe ZW: Unemployment with Basic Education: % of Total Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. 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).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

The statistic shows the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate in EU member states as of November 2024. The source defines youth unemployment as unemployment of those younger than 25 years. In November 2024, the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate in Spain was at 26.6 percent. Youth unemployment rate in EU member states Unemployment is a crucial economic factor for a country; youth unemployment is often examined separately because it tends to be higher than unemployment in older age groups. It comprises the unemployment figures of a country’s labor force aged 15 to 24 years old (i.e. the earliest point at which mandatory school education ends). Typically, teenagers and those in their twenties who are fresh out of education do not find jobs right away, especially if the country’s economy is experiencing difficulties, as can be seen above. Additionally, it also tends to be higher in emerging markets than in industrialized nations. Worldwide, youth unemployment figures have not changed significantly over the last decade, nor are they expected to improve in the next few years. Youth unemployment is most prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa, even though these regions report high unemployment figures regardless (Zimbabwe and Turkmenistan are among the countries with the highest unemployment rates in the world, for example), and are also highly populated areas with a rather weak infrastructure, compared to industrialized regions. In the European Union and the euro area, unemployment in general has been on the rise since 2008, which is due to the economic crisis which caused bankruptcy and financial trouble for many employers, and thus led to considerable job loss, less job offerings, and consequently, to a rise of the unemployment rate. Older workers are struggling to find new jobs despite their experience, and young graduates are struggling to find new jobs, because they have none. All in all, the number of unemployed persons worldwide is projected to rise, this is not down to the economic crisis alone, but also the industrial automation of processes previously performed by workers, as well as rising population figures.

Zimbabwe: Unemployment rate: Pour cet indicateur, La Banque mondiale fournit des données pour la Zimbabwe de 1991 à 2024. La valeur moyenne pour Zimbabwe pendant cette période était de 6 pour cent avec un minimum de 4.39 pour cent en 2004 et un maximum de 10.09 pour cent en 2022.

Zimbabwe Unemployment: % Change over Previous Period data was reported at 8.183 % in 2022. Zimbabwe Unemployment: % Change over Previous Period data is updated yearly, averaging 8.183 % from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2022, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.183 % in 2022 and a record low of 8.183 % in 2022. Zimbabwe Unemployment: % Change over Previous Period data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zimbabwe – Table ZW.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for Zimbabwe (SLEMPTOTLSPZSZWE) from 1991 to 2024 about Zimbabwe, employment-population ratio, population, and employment.

In 2023, South Africa had the highest unemployment rate in the world, at 32.1 percent. Of the 10 countries with the highest unemployment rates, six were in Sub-Saharan Africa. What exactly is unemployment? The unemployment rate is the number of people in the workforce currently looking for jobs but not working. This number does not include students and retirees, as they are not looking for work, nor does it include people who have given up on finding a job (known as discouraged workers). Comparing international unemployment rates can be problematic, however, as different countries use different methodologies when classifying unemployment. For example, Niger records the third lowest unemployment rate in the world, despite often being listed as the least developed country worldwide - this is because the majority of the population engage in subsistence farming, with very little opportunity for paid employment. Causes of unemployment in less developed countries A major driver in unemployment in these countries is conflict. In particular, internally displaced persons (IDPs) want to work, but moving to another part of the country disrupts their business network and moves them into a local economy with different labor demand. Countries with low levels of economic development, as roughly indicated by a low GDP per capita, often have fewer labor market opportunities, leading to high unemployment rates.

This scatter chart displays male population (people) against unemployment (% of total labor force) in Zimbabwe. The data is about countries per year.