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Zambia

ZMBSub-Saharan Africa Lower middle incomeCapital: Lusaka
Economy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
75/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
GDP
$40
2027▲ 17.0%
Population
21.3M
2024▲ 2.9%
GDP per Capita
$1,736
2027▲ 13.9%
Life Expectancy
66.3 years
2023▲ 1.6%
Zambia in world space2000–2023
1k10k100k505560657075808590GDP per capita (USD, log)Life expectancy (years)20002023
192 countries · log scale on X world Zambia· trajectory line: 1980 → today
▶About Zambia

Zambia's GDP is $33.95B (2026), with a population of 21.3M, and GDP per capita of $1,523. Key indicators include real GDP growth of 6.4%, inflation at 9.2%, government debt at 114.9% of GDP, life expectancy of 66.3 years. Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.

Located in Sub-Saharan Africa, this lower middle-income country is projected to see a GDP growth rate of 6.4% in 2026, with a total GDP of $33.945 billion. The GDP per capita is expected to be $1523.148 in the same year. Inflation is anticipated to be 9.2%, while trade as a percentage of GDP was 62.53% in 2024. The unemployment rate is projected to be 5.918% in 2025. The population is estimated to be 21,314,956 in 2024, with a life expectancy of 66.349 years as of 2023. The capital city is Lusaka.

▶Economy30 indicators · 2020–2027 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
GDP (Current USD, Billions)$402027▲ 17.0%IMF
Real GDP Growth (%)6.5%2027▲ 1.6%IMF
GDP per Capita (USD)$1,7362027▲ 13.9%IMF
GDP, PPP (Billions Intl $)$1152027▲ 8.3%IMF
GDP per Capita, PPP (Intl $)$5,0132027▲ 5.5%IMF
Share of World GDP, PPP (%)0.05%2027▲ 4.2%IMF
GNI (Current USD)$23.13B2024▼ 10.7%WB
GNI per Capita (USD)$1,2202024▼ 3.9%WB
GNI per Capita, PPP (USD)$3,8502024▲ 0.5%WB
Industry Value Added (% of GDP)35.2%2024▲ 0.4%WB
Services Value Added (% of GDP)57.2%2024▲ 0.7%WB
Agriculture Value Added (% of GDP)2.8%2024▲ 27.1%WB
Government Consumption (% of GDP)12.7%2024▼ 4.8%WB
Household Consumption (% of GDP)48.0%2024▲ 2.0%WB
Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP)23.8%2024▼ 24.3%WB
Gross Savings (% of GNI)34.4%2024▼ 0.1%WB
GDP Deflator (%)14.4%2024▲ 103.1%WB
GDP per Person Employed (USD)$10,8742024▲ 0.2%WB
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)9.0%2024▲ 6.4%WB
Medium/High-Tech Manufacturing (% of total)9.7%2022▲ 0.0%WB
Adjusted Net National Income per Capita (USD)$6112021▼ 12.0%WB
Adjusted Net Savings (% of GNI)22.5%2020—WB
External Balance on Goods & Services (% of GDP)7.4%2024▲ 115.3%WB
Coal Rents (% of GDP)0.23%2021—WB
Mineral Rents (% of GDP)28.25%2021▲ 243.3%WB
Oil Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Natural Gas Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)35.3%2021▲ 117.4%WB
Forest Rents (% of GDP)6.78%2021▼ 13.6%WB
Industry Value Added (Current USD)$8.92B2024▼ 7.9%WB
▶Fiscal & Monetary23 indicators · 2020–2027 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Inflation, Consumer Prices (%)7.4%2027▼ 19.6%IMF
Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP)114.9%2024▼ 11.0%IMF
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP)-1.6%2027▲ 56.8%IMF
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)3.7%2027▲ 37.0%IMF
Total Investment (% of GDP)32.4%2026▲ 0.5%IMF
Gross National Savings (% of GDP)35.1%2026▲ 4.7%IMF
Inflation, CPI (%, World Bank)15.0%2024▲ 37.7%WB
Real Interest Rate (%)-3.9%2020—WB
Lending Interest Rate (%)9.5%2020—WB
Deposit Interest Rate (%)8.7%2020—WB
Government Debt (% of GDP)71.4%2021▼ 31.0%WB
Government Revenue (% of GDP)22.0%2021▲ 12.2%WB
Government Expenditure (% of GDP)25.1%2021▼ 0.9%WB
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)16.8%2021▲ 2.2%WB
Taxes on Goods & Services (% of revenue)22.6%2021—WB
Taxes on International Trade (% of revenue)4.9%2021▼ 1.1%WB
Taxes on Income, Profits & Capital Gains (% of rev)39.0%2021▼ 4.4%WB
Net Investment in Nonfinancial Assets (% of GDP)2.9%2021▼ 68.0%WB
Total Reserves incl. Gold (USD)$3.17B2023▲ 6.9%WB
Total Reserves (months of imports)32023▼ 1.1%WB
Official Exchange Rate (per USD)26.172024▲ 29.5%WB
PPP Conversion Factor7.372024▲ 11.7%WB
Broad Money (% of GDP)29.9%2023▲ 10.4%WB
▶Trade15 indicators · 2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Trade (% of GDP)62.5%2024▼ 20.1%WB
Exports of Goods & Services (% of GDP)35.0%2024▼ 14.4%WB
Imports of Goods & Services (% of GDP)27.6%2024▼ 26.3%WB
Exports of Goods & Services (USD)$8.85B2024▼ 21.4%WB
Imports of Goods & Services (USD)$6.97B2024▼ 32.4%WB
Merchandise Exports (USD)$11.20B2024▲ 7.4%WB
Merchandise Imports (USD)$11.19B2024▲ 10.6%WB
FDI Inflows (% of GDP)9.3%2024▲ 301.1%WB
FDI Outflows (% of GDP)1.2%2024▲ 120.9%WB
FDI Net Inflows (USD)$2.36B2024▲ 268.0%WB
Personal Remittances Received (USD)$334.3M2024▲ 36.1%WB
Personal Remittances Received (% of GDP)1.3%2024▲ 48.3%WB
High-Tech Exports (% of manufactured)1.5%2024▲ 26.5%WB
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)-1.9%2024▲ 36.6%WB
Current Account Balance (USD)$-487.4M2024▲ 41.8%WB
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
External Debt (% of GNI)114.2%2024▲ 3.2%WB
External Debt Stocks (USD)$28.12B2024▼ 3.3%WB
Total Debt Service (% of GNI)16.9%2024▲ 363.0%WB
Present Value of External Debt (USD)$13.61B2024—WB
Use of IMF Credit (USD)$3.13B2024▲ 27.7%WB
Net ODA Received (% of GNI)5.5%2023▼ 17.1%WB
Net ODA Received (USD)$1.42B2023▼ 22.0%WB
▶Finance11 indicators · 2022–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Domestic Credit by Financial Sector (% of GDP)31.8%2022▼ 8.6%WB
Domestic Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP)13.0%2022▲ 14.2%WB
Stock Market Capitalization (% of GDP)30.7%2024▲ 144.9%WB
Stock Market Capitalization (USD)$7.77B2024▲ 124.7%WB
Stock Market Turnover (% of GDP)0.1%2024▼ 25.3%WB
Listed Domestic Companies202024▼ 9.1%WB
Bank Capital to Assets Ratio (%)10.1%2022▼ 1.2%WB
Bank Nonperforming Loans (%)5.0%2022▼ 14.5%WB
Account Ownership at Financial Institution (%)72.7%2024▲ 49.8%WB
Account Ownership, Female (%)70.2%2024▲ 56.0%WB
Account Ownership, Male (%)75.5%2024▲ 43.8%WB
▶People23 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Population21.3M2024▲ 2.9%WB
Population Growth (%)2.8%2024▲ 0.6%WB
Population Density (per km²)282023▲ 2.8%WB
Surface Area (sq km)752,6102023▲ 0.0%WB
Land Area (sq km)743,3902023▲ 0.0%WB
Urban Population (%)45.5%2024▲ 1.0%WB
Urban Population (total)9.7M2024▲ 3.9%WB
Rural Population (%)54.5%2024▼ 0.8%WB
Life Expectancy at Birth66.3 years2023▲ 1.6%WB
Life Expectancy, Male63.9 years2023▲ 1.9%WB
Life Expectancy, Female68.7 years2023▲ 1.4%WB
Fertility Rate (births per woman)4.12023▼ 1.8%WB
Birth Rate (per 1,000)33.12023▼ 1.4%WB
Death Rate (per 1,000)5.22023▼ 6.7%WB
Net Migration6,5622025▼ 11.1%WB
Population Ages 0–14 (%)41.5%2024▼ 1.2%WB
Population Ages 15–64 (%)56.6%2024▲ 0.8%WB
Population Ages 65+ (%)1.9%2024▲ 2.5%WB
Age Dependency Ratio (%)76.7%2024▼ 1.8%WB
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%)3.4%2024▲ 1.7%WB
Youth Dependency Ratio (%)73.3%2024▼ 2.0%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000)232.52023▼ 10.0%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000)155.32023▼ 9.8%WB
▶Labor20 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Total Labor Force8.0M2025▲ 3.7%WB
Labor Force Participation (%)61.9%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Female Labor Force Participation (%)56.4%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Male Labor Force Participation (%)67.6%2025▼ 0.0%WB
Unemployment (%)5.9%2025▲ 0.3%WB
Female Unemployment (%)6.2%2025▲ 1.4%WB
Male Unemployment (%)5.7%2025▼ 0.6%WB
Youth Unemployment (%)10.5%2025▲ 3.6%WB
Employment in Agriculture (%)54.5%2025▼ 1.4%WB
Employment in Industry (%)10.3%2025▲ 2.7%WB
Employment in Services (%)35.2%2025▲ 1.5%WB
Self-Employed (%)62.0%2023▲ 4.1%WB
Vulnerable Employment (%)70.2%2025▼ 0.5%WB
Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total)28.3%2025▲ 1.2%WB
Part-Time Employment (%)16.6%2023▼ 0.8%WB
Employers (% of total employment)1.6%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Labor Force, Female (% of total)46.3%2025▲ 0.0%WB
Employment to Population Ratio (%)58.3%2025▲ 0.0%WB
Self-Employed (% of total)71.7%2025▼ 0.5%WB
NEET Youth (% not in education/employment)28.9%2023▼ 1.5%WB
▶Education18 indicators · 2012–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Education Spending (% of GDP)4.1%2023▲ 11.3%WB
Education Spending (% of govt expenditure)14.5%2025▼ 5.7%WB
Adult Literacy Rate (%)82.0%2023▲ 2.6%WB
Female Literacy Rate (%)77.2%2023▲ 4.0%WB
Male Literacy Rate (%)87.2%2023▲ 1.1%WB
Youth Literacy Rate (%)85.7%2023▲ 1.5%WB
Primary School Enrollment (%)115.6%2024—WB
Secondary School Enrollment (%)56.8%2024—WB
Primary Completion Rate (%)81.8%2013—WB
Lower Secondary Completion Rate (%)55.3%2013—WB
Out-of-School Children, Primary136,5392024—WB
Primary School Teachers116,8592024—WB
Secondary School Teachers42,5852024—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary422017—WB
Expenditure per Student, Primary (% of GDP/cap)67.4%2017—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Primary)55.52012—WB
Education Spending, Secondary (% of govt)23.3%2017—WB
Education Spending, Tertiary (% of govt)8.9%2017—WB
▶Health39 indicators · 2018–2024 · WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Health Spending (% of GDP)6.0%2023▲ 14.7%WHO
Health Spending per Capita (USD)$802023▲ 5.5%WHO
Government Health Spending (% of GDP)2.4%2023▼ 2.9%WHO
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending (% of total)10.3%2023▲ 15.4%WHO
Physicians (per 1,000 people)0.32022▲ 9.8%WHO
Nurses & Midwives (per 1,000)2.92022▲ 58.6%WHO
Infant Mortality (per 1,000 live births)44.72023▼ 4.3%WHO
Neonatal Mortality (per 1,000)222023▼ 1.8%WHO
Maternal Mortality (per 100,000)852023▼ 4.5%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Female (per 1,000)40.52023▼ 4.5%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Male (per 1,000)48.62023▼ 4.3%WHO
Cause of Death, Communicable (%)56.5%2019—WHO
Cause of Death, Non-Communicable (%)34.8%2019—WHO
Cause of Death, Injury (%)8.7%2019—WHO
Measles Immunization (% of children)88.0%2024▲ 6.0%WHO
DPT Immunization (% of children)91.0%2024▲ 1.1%WHO
HIV Incidence (per 1,000)1.52024▼ 11.8%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100,000)2722024▼ 3.9%WHO
Smoking Prevalence, Males (%)25.6%2022▼ 1.2%WHO
Smoking Prevalence, Females (%)3.5%2022▼ 5.4%WHO
Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000)7.12021▲ 18.8%WHO
Alcohol Consumption (liters per capita)3.62020—WHO
Maternal Deaths5862023▼ 3.1%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100K)2722024▼ 3.9%WHO
People Living with HIV1.4M2024▲ 0.0%WHO
Malaria Deaths (estimated)8,6822024▲ 1.8%WHO
Malaria Incidence (per 1K at risk)252.42024▲ 0.1%WHO
DTP3 Immunization Coverage (%)91%2024▲ 1.1%WHO
Measles Immunization Coverage (%)88%2024▲ 6.0%WHO
Hepatitis B Immunization Coverage (%)91%2024▲ 1.1%WHO
Physicians (total)22024▲ 4.5%WHO
Nursing & Midwifery Personnel172024▼ 2.6%WHO
Dentists (total)26,4392024▲ 0.2%WHO
Pharmacists (total)9,2062024▲ 0.1%WHO
Child Wasting (<5 years, %)4.2%2018—WHO
Child Underweight (<5 years, %)11.8%2018—WHO
Universal Health Coverage Index622023▲ 12.7%WHO
Road Traffic Death Rate (per 100K)3,3382021—WHO
Health Expenditure per Capita (WHO, USD)$802023▲ 5.5%WHO
▶Energy & Environment15 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
CO₂ Emissions (tonnes per capita)0.52024▼ 0.9%WB
CO₂ Emissions (total kilotonnes)122024▲ 1.9%WB
Energy Use (kg oil eq. per capita)8012022▲ 4.0%WB
Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita)7042022▲ 4.4%WB
Renewable Electricity Output (%)92.1%2021▲ 7.6%WB
Renewable Energy Consumption (%)83.0%2021▼ 2.8%WB
Access to Electricity (%)51.1%2023▲ 6.9%WB
Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%)9.2%2023▼ 5.2%WB
PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³)24.32020—WB
Forest Area (%)59.5%2023▼ 0.4%WB
Forest Area (sq km)442,4942023▼ 0.4%WB
Arable Land (%)5.1%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Terrestrial Protected Areas (%)41.3%2024▲ 0.0%WB
Access to Basic Drinking Water (%)73.4%2024▲ 1.5%WHO
Access to Basic Sanitation (%)37.5%2024▲ 2.0%WHO
▶Agriculture11 indicators · 2022–2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Agricultural Land (%)32.1%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Yield (kg per hectare)2,3442023▼ 4.6%WB
Food Production Index (2014–2016=100)119.92022▼ 5.9%WB
Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100)1232022▼ 9.7%WB
Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100)109.12022▼ 0.9%WB
Land Under Cereal Production (hectares)1.6M2023▲ 25.5%WB
Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes)118,0262023▲ 0.3%WB
Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare)77.32023▲ 19.7%WB
Prevalence of Undernourishment (%)37.2%2023▲ 2.8%WB
Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal)2.0%2022▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Production (metric tons)3.7M2023▲ 19.7%WB
▶Technology11 indicators · 2021–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Internet Users (%)33.0%2023▲ 120.0%WB
Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people)1022023▲ 3.7%WB
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100)0.72023▲ 58.9%WB
Secure Internet Servers (per million)80.52024▲ 46.5%WB
Patent Applications, Residents132021—WB
Patent Applications, Non-Residents132021▲ 30.0%WB
Scientific Journal Articles3442022▲ 10.1%WB
High-Technology Exports (USD)$23.4M2024▲ 59.7%WB
ICT Service Exports (% of service exports)1.8%2024▼ 32.3%WB
ICT Service Exports (USD)$25.0M2024▲ 0.1%WB
Industrial Design Applications, Resident462021▼ 62.9%WB
▶Infrastructure8 indicators · 2017–2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Air Transport, Passengers Carried321,7392023▲ 40.7%WB
Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km)104.32023▲ 4.8%WB
Rail Lines (total km)1,2482019—WB
Railways, Passengers (million km)42018—WB
Railways, Goods (million ton-km)2972017—WB
Logistics Performance Index (1–5)2.532018—WB
Electricity from Oil (%)0.0%2022▼ 98.5%WB
Electricity from Nuclear (%)0.0%2021—WB
▶Gender7 indicators · 2017–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Women in Parliament (%)15.0%2024▲ 0.0%WB
Female Labor Force Participation, 15+ (%)56.4%2023▲ 4.4%WB
Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%)19.9%2025▲ 1.5%WB
Girls Out-of-School Rate (%)110.0%2017—WB
Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000)115.92023▼ 1.3%WB
Gender Parity Index, Primary107.422017—WB
Gender Parity in Primary Education1.022017—WB
▶Governance10 indicators · 2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Control of Corruption-0.482023▲ 5.4%WB
Government Effectiveness-0.662023▼ 3.3%WB
Political Stability0.22023▲ 25.0%WB
Regulatory Quality-0.52023▲ 5.9%WB
Rule of Law-0.532023▼ 2.3%WB
Voice & Accountability-0.052023▲ 39.7%WB
Control of Corruption (percentile rank)36.8%2023▲ 6.8%WB
Government Effectiveness (percentile rank)27.8%2023▼ 1.7%WB
Rule of Law (percentile rank)31.6%2023▼ 5.6%WB
Political Stability (percentile rank)52.1%2023▲ 2.3%WB
▶Military5 indicators · 2020–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Military Spending (% of GDP)1.3%2024▼ 0.5%WB
Military Expenditure (USD)$349.7M2024▼ 7.3%WB
Armed Forces Personnel16,0002020—WB
Armed Forces (% of labor force)0.2%2020—WB
Military Spending (% of govt expenditure)4.7%2024▲ 1.2%WB
▶Poverty & Inequality12 indicators · 2022 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Poverty at $2.15/day (%)71.7%2022—WB
Poverty at $3.65/day (%)81.4%2022—WB
Poverty at $6.85/day (%)94.0%2022—WB
Poverty Headcount, National (%)60.0%2022—WB
Gini Index51.52022—WB
Income Share, Top 10%39.1%2022—WB
Income Share, Bottom 10%1.5%2022—WB
Income Share, Top 20%56.4%2022—WB
Income Share, Bottom 20%3.9%2022—WB
Shared Prosperity Premium (%)-2.3%2022—WB
Survey Mean Consumption (2017 PPP $ per day)2.862022—WB
Poverty Gap at $2.15/day (%)39.8%2022—WB
▶Social Protection2 indicators · 2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Human Capital Index (0–1)0.402020—WB
Learning-Adjusted Years of School5.0 years2020—WB
▶Tourism2 indicators · 2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
International Tourism, Arrivals502,0002020—WB
Tourism Expenditures (USD)$474.0M2020—WB
▶Urban Development6 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Urban Population Growth (%)3.8%2024▲ 0.9%WB
Population in Largest City3.5M2025▲ 4.4%WB
Population in Largest City (% of urban)34.5%2025▲ 0.6%WB
Population in Agglomerations >1M (% of total)15.8%2025▲ 1.6%WB
Population in Slums (% of urban)48.3%2022—WB
Rural Population Growth (%)2.0%2024▼ 0.5%WB

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