Zambia
Africa · Eastern Africa
Copper belt and Victoria Falls; a peaceful democracy, improving but still developing.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Zambia's Human Development Index
0.569
Medium human development#151 of 191 countries worldwide, #22 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 21% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Zambia
Zambia is a southern African country centred on the Victoria Falls, which it shares with Zimbabwe and which is one of the great natural spectacles of the world, alongside excellent and relatively uncrowded wildlife in the South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi valleys. The culture is warm, English-speaking, and deeply communal, making it one of the most accessible countries in the region for independent travel. Those who want serious wildlife alongside genuine local engagement rather than pure luxury will find it outstanding.
- Victoria Falls — the world's largest waterfall by combined width and height — sits on its border.
- One of the most urbanised countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with over 45% city-dwellers.
Quick Facts
Capital
Lusaka
Language
English
Currency
ZK ZMW
Area
743,390 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
33Mbps
GDP / Capita
$1K
PPP / Capita
$4K
Inflation
13.9%
Unemployment
5.9%
Innovation (GII)
19.6
GNI / Capita
$1K
Tax Revenue
18.8%
FDI Inflows
9.3%
Education Spend
4.1%
Cost of Living
29.9
Price Level Index
85th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.417 → 0.569 (+0.152)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Zambia's Human Development Index?
Zambia's Human Development Index is 0.569 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #151 of 191 countries.
Is Zambia safe?
Zambia scores 1.99 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #81 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Zambia?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Zambia at 29.9 (New York = 100); that is #28 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Zambia?
Life expectancy at birth in Zambia is 66.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #160 of 195 countries.