“Zambia's economy is growing, but poverty, healthcare access, and education expenditure remain major concerns. The country has made progress in increasing its forest area and renewable energy output, but maternal mortality rates and low female labour force participation persist. Despite these challenges, Zambia has a relatively high bank account ownership rate.”
45/100
Need
Humanitarian pressure
34/100
Opportunity
Growth potential
54/100
Stability
Governance score
AI Brief
ZMBUpdated today
Zambia faces significant humanitarian and economic challenges
Zambia's economy is growing, but poverty, healthcare access, and education expenditure remain major concerns. The country has made progress in increasing its forest area and renewable energy output, but maternal mortality rates and low female labour force participation persist. Despite these challenges, Zambia has a relatively high bank account ownership rate.
•Zambia's GDP growth rate is 3.82% (World Bank, 2024), indicating a stable economy
•The country has a high bank account ownership rate of 72.70% (World Bank, 2024)
•Zambia's forest area covers 59.52% of the land (World Bank, 2023), a significant increase
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Did you know?
Zambia is home to the world's largest waterfalls, Victoria Falls, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Key Indicators
Bank Account Ownership
72.7%
% of adults with a bank or mobile money account. Africa average: ~55%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Agricultural Land
32.07% land
% of land used for crops or livestock. Africa average: ~43%.
World Bank (2023)Updated today
Government Education Expenditure
4.07% GDP
World Bank (2023)Updated today
Energy Use per Capita
804.22kg oil eq
World Bank (2023)Updated today
FDI Inflows
9.32% GDP
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Female Labour Force Participation
46.32%
Share of women ages 15+ who are employed or seeking work. Global average: ~47%.
World Bank (2025)Updated today
Forest Area
59.52% land
% of land covered by forest. Africa average: ~22%.
World Bank (2023)Updated today
GDP Growth
3.82%
Annual % change in national economic output. Global average: ~3%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
GDP per Capita
1 187.11USD
GDP per person in current USD. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~$1,700.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Gini Index
51.5
Income inequality index 0–100. Higher = more unequal. Africa average: ~43.
World Bank (2022)Updated today
Current Health Expenditure
5.98% GDP
Government + private health spending as % of GDP. Global average: ~10%.
World Bank (2023)Updated today
Internally Displaced Persons
190people
People displaced within their own country. Africa hosts the most IDPs globally. Source: UNHCR.
UNHCR (2024)Updated today
Inflation (CPI)
14.99%
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Internet Access
17.1%
Share of population using the internet. Africa average: ~43%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Life Expectancy
63.11years
Average years a newborn is expected to live. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~62 years.
WHO GHO (2021)Updated today
Adult Literacy Rate
71.77%
Share of adults (15+) who can read and write. Africa average: ~70%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Maternal Mortality
85.45per 100k
Deaths per 100,000 live births. Global average: 223; sub-Saharan Africa: ~450.
WHO GHO (2023)Updated today
4G Mobile Network Coverage
90%
UN SDG (2010)Updated today
Mobile Subscriptions
108.7per 100
SIM cards per 100 people (can exceed 100 due to multiple SIMs). Africa average: ~85.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Under-5 Mortality
48.4per 1k
Deaths per 1,000 live births before age 5. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~65.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
NCD Premature Mortality (30–70)
23.6%
WHO GHO (2021)Updated today
Obesity Prevalence
11.58%
WHO GHO (2024)Updated today
Medical Doctors
1.63per 10k
Medical doctors per 10,000 people. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~2.2.
WHO GHO (2024)Updated today
Political Stability Index
0.2/100
World Governance Indicators score 0–100. Higher = more stable. Normalized from -2.5/+2.5 scale.
World Bank WGI (2023)Updated today
Population
21 314 956
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Poverty Headcount ($2.15/day)
71.7%
Share of population living on less than $2.15/day. Global extreme poverty threshold.
World Bank (2022)Updated today
Protected Areas
41.3% total
World Bank (2025)Updated today
Renewable Electricity Output
92%
% of electricity from renewable sources (hydro, solar, wind, geothermal).
World Bank (2021)Updated today
Net Primary School Enrollment
83.17%
Net % of primary school-age children attending school.
World Bank (2017)Updated today
Population in Slums
48.26% urban
World Bank (2022)Updated today
Undernourishment Prevalence
37.2%
Share of population with insufficient food intake. Africa average: ~20%.
World Bank (2023)Updated today
Unemployment Rate
5.92%
World Bank (2025)Updated today
Urban Population Share
45.47%
Share of population living in urban areas. Africa average: ~44%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Women in Parliament
14.97%
Share of parliamentary seats held by women. Global average: ~27%.
World Bank (2025)Updated today
Trusted Actions
DonateVerified A
Solar irrigation for smallholders in Zambia
Practical Action
Fund solar water pumps for farmers in Southern Province — reducing dependence on rain-fed agriculture and extending the growing season.