Zambia
ZMBSub-Saharan Africa Lower middle incomeCapital: LusakaEconomy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
75/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
GDP
$41.24B
2026▲ 42.8%
Population
21.9M
2025▲ 2.8%
GDP per Capita
$1,831
2026▲ 39.0%
Life Expectancy
66.5 years
2024▲ 0.3%
Zambia in world space2000–2024
192 countries · log scale on X world Zambia· trajectory line: 1980 → today
▶About Zambia
Zambia's GDP is $41.24B (2026), with a population of 21.9M, and GDP per capita of $1,831. Key indicators include real GDP growth of 4.3%, inflation at 9.0%, government debt at 86.0% of GDP, life expectancy of 66.5 years. Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.
▶Economy32 indicators · 2020–2026 · IMF / WB
▶Fiscal & Monetary23 indicators · 2020–2026 · IMF / WB
▶Trade15 indicators · 2024–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | $8.85B | 2024 | ▼ 21.4% | WB |
| Imports of Goods & Services (USD) | $6.97B | 2024 | ▼ 32.4% | WB |
| Merchandise Exports (USD) | $13.31B | 2025 | ▲ 18.1% | WB |
| Merchandise Imports (USD) | $13.17B | 2025 | ▲ 16.9% | 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) | $2.36B | 2024 | ▲ 268.0% | WB |
| Personal Remittances Received (USD) | $334.3M | 2024 | ▲ 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) | -4.4% | 2024 | ▼ 45.2% | WB |
| Current Account Balance (USD) | $-1.12B | 2024 | ▼ 33.2% | WB |
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| External Debt (% of GNI) | 114.2% | 2024 | ▲ 3.2% | WB |
| External Debt Stocks (USD) | $28.12B | 2024 | ▼ 3.3% | WB |
| Total Debt Service (% of GNI) | 17.3% | 2024 | ▲ 374.7% | WB |
| Present Value of External Debt (USD) | $13.61B | 2024 | — | WB |
| Use of IMF Credit (USD) | $3.13B | 2024 | ▲ 27.7% | WB |
| Net ODA Received (% of GNI) | 5.5% | 2023 | ▼ 17.1% | WB |
| Net ODA Received (USD) | $1.42B | 2023 | ▼ 22.0% | WB |
▶Finance12 indicators · 2024–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Credit by Financial Sector (% of GDP) | 35.2% | 2024 | ▼ 5.3% | WB |
| Domestic Credit to Private Sector (% of GDP) | 17.0% | 2024 | ▲ 8.8% | WB |
| Stock Market Capitalization (% of GDP) | 51.6% | 2025 | ▲ 68.2% | WB |
| Stock Market Capitalization (USD) | $14.91B | 2025 | ▲ 92.0% | WB |
| Stocks Traded, Total Value (% of GDP) | 0.3% | 2025 | ▲ 95.8% | WB |
| Listed Domestic Companies | 20 | 2025 | ▲ 5.3% | WB |
| Bank Capital to Assets Ratio (%) | 12.6% | 2025 | ▲ 10.4% | WB |
| Bank Nonperforming Loans (%) | 2.8% | 2025 | ▼ 31.8% | WB |
| Financial Institution or Mobile-Money Account Ownership (Age 15+, %) | 72.7% | 2024 | ▲ 49.8% | WB |
| Account Ownership, Female (%) | 70.2% | 2024 | ▲ 56.0% | WB |
| Account Ownership, Male (%) | 75.5% | 2024 | — | WB |
| Firms Using Banks to Finance Investment (%) | 2.0% | 2025 | — | WB |
▶Business Environment1 indicator · 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to Get Electricity (days) | 10 | 2025 | — | WB |
▶Private Sector6 indicators · 2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firms Expected to Pay Bribes (%) | 5.2% | 2025 | — | WB |
| Firms with Female Participation in Ownership (%) | 32.9% | 2025 | — | WB |
| Firms with a Female Top Manager (%) | 18.4% | 2025 | — | WB |
| Firms Offering Training (%) | 26.0% | 2025 | — | WB |
| Time to Obtain an Operating License (days) | 14.6 | 2025 | — | WB |
| Firms Competing with Unregistered Firms (%) | 43.9% | 2025 | — | WB |
▶People23 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 21.9M | 2025 | ▲ 2.8% | WB |
| Population Growth (%) | 2.8% | 2025 | ▼ 1.4% | WB |
| Population Density (per km²) | 28 | 2023 | ▲ 2.8% | WB |
| Surface Area (sq km) | 752,610 | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Land Area (sq km) | 743,390 | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Urban Population (%) | 45.9% | 2025 | ▲ 1.0% | WB |
| Urban Population (total) | 10.1M | 2025 | ▲ 3.8% | WB |
| Rural Population (%) | 54.1% | 2025 | ▼ 0.8% | WB |
| Life Expectancy at Birth | 66.5 years | 2024 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Life Expectancy, Male | 64.1 years | 2024 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Life Expectancy, Female | 68.9 years | 2024 | ▲ 0.3% | WB |
| Fertility Rate (births per woman) | 4 | 2024 | ▼ 1.6% | WB |
| Birth Rate (per 1,000) | 32.7 | 2024 | ▼ 1.1% | WB |
| Death Rate (per 1,000) | 5.2 | 2024 | ▼ 0.8% | WB |
| Net Migration | 6,562 | 2025 | ▼ 11.1% | WB |
| Population Ages 0–14 (%) | 41.0% | 2025 | ▼ 1.2% | WB |
| Population Ages 15–64 (%) | 57.0% | 2025 | ▲ 0.8% | WB |
| Population Ages 65+ (%) | 2.0% | 2025 | ▲ 2.7% | WB |
| Age Dependency Ratio (%) | 75.3% | 2025 | ▼ 1.7% | WB |
| Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%) | 3.5% | 2025 | ▲ 2.0% | WB |
| Youth Dependency Ratio (%) | 71.8% | 2025 | ▼ 1.9% | WB |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000) | 230.6 | 2024 | ▼ 0.8% | WB |
| Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000) | 153.3 | 2024 | ▼ 1.3% | WB |
▶Labor20 indicators · 2024–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 8.0M | 2025 | ▲ 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 |
| Labor Force Participation, Age 15+ (National Estimate, %) | 63.2% | 2024 | ▲ 2.1% | WB |
| Vulnerable Employment (%) | 70.2% | 2025 | ▼ 0.5% | WB |
| Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total) | 28.3% | 2025 | ▲ 1.2% | WB |
| Part-Time Employment (%) | 18.0% | 2024 | ▲ 8.8% | 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) | 26.7% | 2024 | ▼ 7.7% | WB |
▶Education18 indicators · 2012–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education Spending (% of GDP) | 4.1% | 2023 | ▲ 11.3% | WB |
| Education Spending (% of govt expenditure) | 14.5% | 2025 | ▼ 5.7% | WB |
| Adult Literacy Rate (%) | 71.8% | 2024 | ▼ 12.5% | WB |
| Female Literacy Rate (%) | 64.4% | 2024 | ▼ 16.5% | WB |
| Male Literacy Rate (%) | 80.6% | 2024 | ▼ 7.5% | WB |
| Youth Literacy Rate (%) | 77.7% | 2024 | ▼ 9.4% | 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, Primary | 136,539 | 2024 | — | WB |
| Primary School Teachers | 116,859 | 2024 | — | WB |
| Secondary School Teachers | 42,585 | 2024 | — | WB |
| Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary | 42 | 2017 | — | WB |
| Primary Education Spending (% of Education Budget) | 67.4% | 2017 | — | WB |
| Persistence to Last Primary Grade (% of Cohort) | 55.5% | 2012 | — | WB |
| Secondary Education Spending (% of Education Budget) | 23.3% | 2017 | — | WB |
| Tertiary Education Spending (% of Education Budget) | 8.9% | 2017 | — | WB |
▶Health48 indicators · 2018–2025 · WHO
▶Energy & Environment17 indicators · 2021–2025 · WB / WHO
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ Emissions per Capita, Excluding LULUCF (t CO2e) | 0.5 | 2024 | ▼ 0.9% | WB |
| CO₂ Emissions, Excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) | 12 | 2024 | ▲ 1.9% | WB |
| Energy Use (kg oil eq. per capita) | 804 | 2023 | ▲ 1.6% | WB |
| Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita) | 727 | 2023 | ▲ 3.1% | WB |
| Renewable Electricity Output (%) | 92.0% | 2021 | — | WB |
| Renewable Energy Consumption (%) | 83.0% | 2021 | — | WB |
| Access to Electricity (%) | 53.6% | 2024 | ▲ 4.9% | WB |
| Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%) | 9.2% | 2023 | ▼ 5.2% | WB |
| PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³) | 20.2 | 2023 | ▼ 13.8% | WB |
| Forest Area (%) | 59.5% | 2023 | ▼ 0.4% | WB |
| Forest Area (sq km) | 442,494 | 2023 | ▼ 0.4% | WB |
| Arable Land (%) | 5.1% | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas (%) | 41.3% | 2025 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Access to Basic Drinking Water (%) | 73.4% | 2024 | ▲ 1.5% | WHO |
| Access to Basic Sanitation (%) | 37.5% | 2024 | ▲ 2.0% | WHO |
| Urban PM2.5 Concentration (WHO) | 16.573265305 | 2023 | — | WHO |
| Air Pollution Mortality (household + ambient, age-standardized) | 152.904 | 2021 | — | WHO |
▶Agriculture11 indicators · 2022–2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Land (%) | 32.1% | 2023 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Cereal Yield (kg per hectare) | 2,344 | 2023 | ▼ 4.6% | WB |
| Food Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 119.9 | 2022 | ▼ 5.9% | WB |
| Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 123 | 2022 | ▼ 9.7% | WB |
| Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100) | 109.1 | 2022 | ▼ 0.9% | WB |
| Land Under Cereal Production (hectares) | 1.6M | 2023 | ▲ 25.5% | WB |
| Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes) | 122,963 | 2024 | ▲ 3.8% | WB |
| Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare) | 77.3 | 2023 | ▲ 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) | 3.7M | 2023 | ▲ 19.7% | WB |
▶Technology11 indicators · 2021–2024 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Users (%) | 17.1% | 2024 | ▲ 4.0% | WB |
| Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people) | 109 | 2024 | ▲ 6.5% | WB |
| Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100) | 0.8 | 2024 | ▲ 15.9% | WB |
| Secure Internet Servers (per million) | 80.5 | 2024 | ▲ 46.5% | WB |
| Patent Applications, Residents | 13 | 2021 | — | WB |
| Patent Applications, Non-Residents | 13 | 2021 | — | WB |
| Scientific Journal Articles | 367 | 2023 | ▲ 1.4% | WB |
| High-Technology Exports (USD) | $23.4M | 2024 | ▲ 59.7% | WB |
| ICT Service Exports (% of service exports) | 1.8% | 2024 | ▼ 32.3% | WB |
| ICT Service Exports (USD) | $25.0M | 2024 | ▲ 0.1% | WB |
| Industrial Design Applications, Resident | 46 | 2021 | — | WB |
▶Infrastructure8 indicators · 2017–2023 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Transport, Passengers Carried | 321,739 | 2023 | ▲ 40.7% | WB |
| Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km) | 104.3 | 2023 | ▲ 4.8% | WB |
| Rail Lines (total km) | 1,248 | 2019 | — | WB |
| Rail Passengers Carried (million passenger-km) | 4 | 2018 | — | WB |
| Railways, Goods (million ton-km) | 297 | 2017 | — | WB |
| Logistics Performance Index (1–5) | 2.53 | 2018 | — | WB |
| Electricity from Oil (%) | 0.0% | 2023 | ▲ 300.5% | WB |
| Electricity from Nuclear (%) | 0.0% | 2021 | — | WB |
▶Gender8 indicators · 2017–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women in Parliament (%) | 15.0% | 2025 | ▲ 0.0% | WB |
| Female Labor Force Participation, 15+ (%) | 57.4% | 2024 | ▲ 1.8% | WB |
| Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%) | 19.9% | 2025 | ▲ 1.5% | WB |
| Gross Intake to First Primary Grade, Female (%) | 110.0% | 2017 | — | WB |
| Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000) | 115.5 | 2024 | ▼ 0.4% | WB |
| Women Who Believe Husband Can Beat Wife (%) | 34.4% | 2024 | — | WB |
| Gross Intake to First Primary Grade, Total (%) | 107.4% | 2017 | — | WB |
| Gender Parity in Primary Education | 1.02 | 2017 | — | WB |
▶Governance10 indicators · 2023 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control of Corruption | -0.48 | 2023 | ▲ 5.4% | WB |
| Government Effectiveness | -0.66 | 2023 | ▼ 3.3% | WB |
| Political Stability | 0.2 | 2023 | ▲ 25.0% | WB |
| Regulatory Quality | -0.5 | 2023 | ▲ 5.9% | WB |
| Rule of Law | -0.53 | 2023 | ▼ 2.3% | WB |
| Voice & Accountability | -0.05 | 2023 | ▲ 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
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military Spending (% of GDP) | 1.3% | 2024 | ▼ 0.5% | WB |
| Military Expenditure (USD) | $349.7M | 2024 | ▼ 7.3% | WB |
| Armed Forces Personnel | 16,000 | 2020 | — | 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
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty at $3.00/day (2021 PPP, %) | 71.7% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Poverty at $4.20/day (2021 PPP, %) | 81.4% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Poverty at $8.30/day (2021 PPP, %) | 94.0% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Poverty Headcount, National (%) | 60.0% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Gini Index | 51.5 | 2022 | — | 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 |
| Growth in Survey Mean Income or Consumption, Total Population (%) | -2.3% | 2022 | — | WB |
| Survey Mean Income or Consumption (2021 PPP $/person/day) | 2.86 | 2022 | — | WB |
| Poverty Gap at $3.00/day (2021 PPP, %) | 39.8% | 2022 | — | WB |
▶Social Protection2 indicators · 2020 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Capital Index (0–1) | 0.40 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Learning-Adjusted Years of School | 5.0 years | 2020 | — | WB |
▶Tourism2 indicators · 2020 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Tourism, Arrivals | 502,000 | 2020 | — | WB |
| Tourism Expenditures (USD) | $474.0M | 2020 | — | WB |
▶Urban Development6 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB
| Indicator | Value | Year | Δ YoY | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Population Growth (%) | 3.7% | 2025 | ▼ 1.0% | WB |
| Population in Largest City | 3.5M | 2025 | ▲ 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 (%) | 1.9% | 2025 | ▼ 2.8% | WB |