GeoRealityMatch
Road sign indicating directions to Nyimba and Lusaka, with a rural landscape.Stunning aerial view of Chipata, Zambia, surrounded by lush hills and expansive cityscape.

Zambia

Africa · Eastern Africa

High safetyVery affordable cost of livingMedium development

Incomes are low.

BackpackerCombines very affordable cost of living and high safety.
Safety

81st most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.992lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#81 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
53.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,200national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
12.2New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 25% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 40% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.5K$5.0K$4,379 PPP$1,318Inflation, % a year25%0200620102015202020252006, $1,052 a person, $2,378 at PPP, inflation 9%2007, $1,119 a person, $2,555 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2008, $1,376 a person, $2,708 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2009, $1,136 a person, $2,872 at PPP, inflation 13.4%2010, $1,451 a person, $3,098 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2011, $1,625 a person, $3,228 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2012, $1,710 a person, $3,324 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2013, $1,821 a person, $3,477 at PPP, inflation 7%2014, $1,707 a person, $3,441 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2015, $1,296 a person, $3,337 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2016, $1,239 a person, $3,313 at PPP, inflation 17.9%2017, $1,483 a person, $3,392 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2018, $1,464 a person, $3,442 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2019, $1,259 a person, $3,361 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2020, $952 a person, $3,157 at PPP, inflation 15.7%2021, $1,127 a person, $3,503 at PPP, inflation 22%2022, $1,447 a person, $3,840 at PPP, inflation 11%2023, $1,331 a person, $4,080 at PPP, inflation 10.9%2024, $1,187 a person, $4,221 at PPP, inflation 15%2025, $1,318 a person, $4,379 at PPP, inflation 13.9%$0$2.5K$5.0KInflation, % a year25%0200620102015202020252006, $1,052 a person, $2,378 at PPP, inflation 9%2007, $1,119 a person, $2,555 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2008, $1,376 a person, $2,708 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2009, $1,136 a person, $2,872 at PPP, inflation 13.4%2010, $1,451 a person, $3,098 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2011, $1,625 a person, $3,228 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2012, $1,710 a person, $3,324 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2013, $1,821 a person, $3,477 at PPP, inflation 7%2014, $1,707 a person, $3,441 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2015, $1,296 a person, $3,337 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2016, $1,239 a person, $3,313 at PPP, inflation 17.9%2017, $1,483 a person, $3,392 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2018, $1,464 a person, $3,442 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2019, $1,259 a person, $3,361 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2020, $952 a person, $3,157 at PPP, inflation 15.7%2021, $1,127 a person, $3,503 at PPP, inflation 22%2022, $1,447 a person, $3,840 at PPP, inflation 11%2023, $1,331 a person, $4,080 at PPP, inflation 10.9%2024, $1,187 a person, $4,221 at PPP, inflation 15%2025, $1,318 a person, $4,379 at PPP, inflation 13.9%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
66.5years, at birthLow
#160 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
62WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
14.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
5.9%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
33 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
573EF English Proficiency Index scoreHighEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet33 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Stunning aerial view of Chipata, Zambia, surrounded by lush hills and expansive cityscape.
How it changed

Zambia's Human Development Index

0.595Medium human development

154th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 22nd of 54 in Africa.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #152Comoros0.603
  2. #153Zimbabwe0.598
  3. #154Zambia0.595
  4. #155Cameroon0.588
  5. #156Solomon Islands0.584
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.422 in 1990 to 0.595 in 2023.

0.350.500.650.59519902000201020231990: 0.4221991: 0.4161992: 0.4141993: 0.4171994: 0.4131995: 0.4131996: 0.4151997: 0.4181998: 0.4181999: 0.4232000: 0.4292001: 0.4372002: 0.4452003: 0.4582004: 0.4682005: 0.4802006: 0.4922007: 0.5042008: 0.5142009: 0.5262010: 0.5332011: 0.5382012: 0.5512013: 0.5572014: 0.5592015: 0.5652016: 0.5652017: 0.5702018: 0.5752019: 0.5782020: 0.5782021: 0.5742022: 0.5892023: 0.5950.350.500.6519902000201020231990: 0.4221991: 0.4161992: 0.4141993: 0.4171994: 0.4131995: 0.4131996: 0.4151997: 0.4181998: 0.4181999: 0.4232000: 0.4292001: 0.4372002: 0.4452003: 0.4582004: 0.4682005: 0.4802006: 0.4922007: 0.5042008: 0.5142009: 0.5262010: 0.5332011: 0.5382012: 0.5512013: 0.5572014: 0.5592015: 0.5652016: 0.5652017: 0.5702018: 0.5752019: 0.5782020: 0.5782021: 0.5742022: 0.5892023: 0.595

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
66.5 years2024at birthUp 14.9 years from 51.6 years in 2005
Internet users
17%2024of people onlineUp 16 points from 2% in 2006
Urban population
46%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 38% in 2006
Births per woman
4.042024births per womanDown 1.66 from 5.70 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
83%2021of energy usedDown 6 points from 89% in 2004
Access to electricity
54%2024of people with electricityUp 30 points from 23% in 2005
Infant mortality
352024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 26 from 60 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.3 t from 0.2 t in 2005
Forest area
60%2023of land under forestDown 4 points from 63% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Copper belt and Victoria Falls; a peaceful democracy, improving but still developing. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalLusaka
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • CurrencyZambian kwacha (ZMW)
  • Area743,390 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Zambia's Human Development Index?

Zambia's Human Development Index is 0.595 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #154 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Zambia safe?

Zambia scores 1.99 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #81 of 161 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.