Economy, jobs and prices in Western Province, Zambia: official figures
24.5% of Western Province's labour force was unemployed in the 2024 Labour Force Survey, about 80,500 people out of 328,700 working or looking for work; the highest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 12.9%).
How many young people in Western are unemployed?
Among young people aged 19 to 34 (Zambia's official youth age range), 29.5% of those in the labour force in Western Province were unemployed in 2024, 2nd highest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 18.4%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Labour and Social Security · saved copyHow many people in Western have a job?
30.9% of people aged 15 and over in Western Province were in work in 2024 and 41.7% were in the labour force (44.1% of men, 39.5% of women); 5th highest of the 10 provinces for the share in work (Zambia: 33.1% and 38.0%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Labour and Social Security · saved copyHow many jobs in Western are informal?
82.2% of working people in Western Province worked in the informal economy in 2024; 3rd highest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 68.3%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Labour and Social Security · saved copyWhat is the average household income in Western?
The average household in Western Province had an income of K2,309 a month in 2022, according to the Living Conditions Monitoring Survey, 5th lowest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: K3,443). An average is pulled up by the highest earners, so most households receive less.
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency · saved copyHow many homes in Western have electricity?
11.2% of households in Western Province used electricity as their main source of lighting in 2022, 2nd lowest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 33.9%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency · saved copyDo people in Western have clean drinking water?
49.7% of people in Western Province had at least a basic drinking water service (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2024, 4th lowest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 61.9%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in Western have a proper toilet?
27.4% of people in Western Province had at least a basic sanitation service (an improved toilet not shared with other households) in 2024, 3rd lowest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 37.2%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow Western Province compares with other provinces
Unemployment rate (labour force aged 15+) (2024)
Western Province ranks 1 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (labour force aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Province | 24.5% |
| 2 | Copperbelt Province | 21.5% |
| 3 | North-Western Province | 20.4% |
| 4 | Muchinga Province | 18.3% |
| 5 | Luapula Province | 12.4% |
| 6 | Eastern Province | 10.8% |
| 7 | Southern Province | 9.0% |
Youth unemployment rate (aged 19-34) (2024)
Western Province ranks 2 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Youth unemployment rate (aged 19-34) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copperbelt Province | 34.2% |
| 2 | Western Province | 29.5% |
| 3 | North-Western Province | 26.7% |
| 4 | Muchinga Province | 24.8% |
| 5 | Luapula Province | 16.4% |
| 6 | Eastern Province | 15.9% |
| 7 | Southern Province | 14.7% |
Average monthly household income (Kwacha) (2022)
Western Province ranks 6 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average monthly household income (Kwacha) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | North-Western Province | K4,881 |
| 4 | Southern Province | K3,140 |
| 5 | Central Province | K2,960 |
| 6 | Western Province | K2,309 |
| 7 | Northern Province | K1,904 |
| 8 | Luapula Province | K1,417 |
| 9 | Eastern Province | K1,307 |
Households lit mainly by electricity (2022)
Western Province ranks 9 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households lit mainly by electricity |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Southern Province | 24.7% |
| 5 | Central Province | 22.4% |
| 6 | Luapula Province | 14.1% |
| 7 | Muchinga Province | 12.2% |
| 8 | Northern Province | 11.9% |
| 9 | Western Province | 11.2% |
| 10 | Eastern Province | 11.1% |
Population with at least basic drinking water (2024)
Western Province ranks 7 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Eastern Province | 59.5% |
| 5 | Southern Province | 58.9% |
| 6 | North-Western Province | 52.7% |
| 7 | Western Province | 49.7% |
| 8 | Muchinga Province | 42.8% |
| 9 | Luapula Province | 37.2% |
| 10 | Northern Province | 35.6% |
More on Western Province: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Zambia
Sources
- Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program): Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2024, Final Report (province rows of Tables 2.6, 2.12, 3.3, 3.9.1, 5.2, 8.1, 8.3, 9.8, 10.4, 11.1, 14.4.1, 16.11, 17.2, 17.7), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 12e99ddc4a98…)
- Zambia Statistics Agency: 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey Report (Tables 6.2, 10.2, 14.8; Figures 12.3, 12.6, 12.27), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e5a8bbf667e0…)
- Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Labour and Social Security: 2024 Labour Force Survey Report (Tables 4.2, 4.3, 10.2; Figures 5.6, 7.2, 10.10, 10.18), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9dac93f5249a…)
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