Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Zambia

Zambia: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 33.6% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
33.6%
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
48th
of 187 countries
All-time high
37.1%
in 2005
All-time low
28.8%
in 2001
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Zambia, 1991–2016

0102030401991200320161991: 31.61992: 30.71993: 35.31994: 31.71995: 33.61996: 34.51997: 32.31998: 31.61999: 30.62000: 292001: 28.82002: 36.72003: 36.22004: 36.82005: 37.12006: 35.82007: 33.12008: 33.62009: 34.92010: 36.32011: 34.72012: 36.32013: 35.62014: 34.82015: 34.62016: 33.6

Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.

Analysis

The most recent figure for own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Zambia is 33.6%, measured in 2016.

That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Zambia peaked at 37.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 28.8%, in 2001.

That places Zambia 48th out of 187 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.

Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Zambia, 1991 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1991 31.6%
1992 30.7% -2.8%
1993 35.3% +14.9%
1994 31.7% -10.1%
1995 33.6% +5.9%
1996 34.5% +2.8%
1997 32.3% -6.3%
1998 31.6% -2.3%
1999 30.6% -3.1%
2000 29.0% -5.3%
2001 28.8% -0.6%
2002 36.7% +27.3%
2003 36.2% -1.5%
2004 36.8% +1.8%
2005 37.1% +0.8%
2006 35.8% -3.5%
2007 33.1% -7.6%
2008 33.6% +1.5%
2009 34.9% +3.8%
2010 36.3% +4.2%
2011 34.7% -4.5%
2012 36.3% +4.6%
2013 35.6% -2.0%
2014 34.8% -2.2%
2015 34.6% -0.4%
2016 33.6% -2.9%

Zambia compared with similar countries

  • Zambia's 33.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.8%, 96% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • Zambia's 33.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 47.8%, 70% of the median. (47 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2002 +27.3% 28.8% 36.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 32.4% 30.6% 35.3% 9
2000s 34.2% 28.8% 37.1% 10
2010s 35.1% 33.6% 36.3% 7

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 45 Peru 35.0% compare
  2. 46 Burkina Faso 34.1% compare
  3. 47 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 33.9% compare
  4. 49 Guatemala 33.6% compare
  5. 50 Bangladesh 33.2% compare
  6. 51 Senegal 32.5% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More gender data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Zambia?
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Zambia was 33.6% in 2016, according to International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
What is the highest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 37.1% in 2005.
What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 28.8% in 2001.
How does Zambia rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
Zambia ranks 48th out of 187 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017, published as part of Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-female-percent-of-female-employment-modeled-ilo-estimate/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source
International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
213 places, 5,537 data points, 1991–2016
Last refreshed

Own-account workers are workers who, working on their own account or with one or more more partners, hold the types of jobs defined as "self-employment jobs" and have not engaged on a continuous basis any employees to work for them. Own account workers are a subcategory of "self-employed".