ZMB
Data file updated Aug 6, 2026
Zambia
Country profile covering economy, demographics, military, quality-of-life signals, and historical trends.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Lusaka
- Currency
- Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
- Language
- English
- Government
- Presidential republic
- Internet Users
- 17.1%
- Unemployment
- 5.9%
- Smoking (15+)
- 12.4%
Population
21.91M
GDP
$28.88B
GDP per Capita
$1,318
Area
752,612 km²
Life Expectancy
66.5 years
HDI
0.6
Economy
5 metrics| GDP (USD) | $28.88B |
|---|---|
| GDP Per Capita (USD) | $1,318 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 5.9% |
| GINI Index (Income Inequality) | 51.5 |
| Currency | Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) |
Trade (Import/Export)
3 metrics| Exports | $8.9B |
|---|---|
| Imports | $7.0B |
| Trade Balance | $1.9B |
Gold Reserves
1 metrics| Gold Reserves | 0.0 tonnes |
|---|
Society & Demographics
4 metrics| Life Expectancy (years) | 66.5 |
|---|---|
| Literacy Rate (%) | 71.8% |
| Internet Users (%) | 17.1% |
| Human Development Index | 0.6 |
Military Strength
9 metrics| Active Personnel | 15,100 |
|---|---|
| Reserve Personnel | 3,000 |
| Total Military Personnel | 18,100 |
| Defense Budget (USD) | $420M |
| Tanks | 30 |
| Armored Vehicles | 85 |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 0 |
| Towed Artillery | 18 |
| Rocket Projectors | 12 |
Air Force
7 metrics| Total Aircraft | 25 |
|---|---|
| Fighters | 12 |
| Attack Aircraft | 0 |
| Transport Aircraft | 6 |
| Trainer Aircraft | 4 |
| Helicopters | 3 |
| Attack Helicopters | 0 |
Education
4 metrics| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 4.6% |
|---|---|
| Universities | 65 |
| Primary Enrollment (%) | 106.2% |
| Secondary Enrollment (%) | 37.8% |
Healthcare
5 metrics| Healthcare Expenditure (% of GDP) | 4.9% |
|---|---|
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.2 |
| Hospital Beds per 1,000 people | 2.0 |
| Life Expectancy (Male) | 62.1 |
| Life Expectancy (Female) | 65.8 |
Cost of Living
12 metrics| Cost of Living Index | 24.8 |
|---|---|
| Rent Index | 8.2 |
| Groceries Index | 23.1 |
| Restaurant Price Index | 19.4 |
| Local Purchasing Power | 12.3 |
| Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant (USD) | $3 |
| Three-Course Meal for 2 (USD) | $12 |
| Monthly Rent - City Center (USD) | $180 |
| Monthly Rent - Outside Center (USD) | $95 |
| Monthly Utilities (USD) | $35 |
| Internet (60 Mbps, USD) | $28 |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (USD) | $15 |
Historical Data
Olympic Medals
3 Games years
0
Gold
1
Silver
2
Bronze
3
Total Medals (All-Time)
☀ Summer: 3
❄ Winter: 0
Medals by Games Year
Source: Official IOC medal counts via Wikipedia per-Games medal tables (Summer 1896–2024, Winter 1924–2026)
Summer Olympics
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Compare Zambia
Religious Composition
- Protestant 75.3%
- Catholic 20.2%
- Traditional 2.9%
- Other 0.6%
- Muslim 0.5%
- None 0.4%
Beverages per Person
- Coffee 0.1 kg/yr
- Tea 0.1 kg/yr
- Beer 16.0 L/yr
- Wine 0.0 L/yr
- Alcohol 2.1 L pure/yr
Per-capita — consumption where available, else FAOSTAT supply · alcohol = litres of pure alcohol (WHO)
Age Demographics
17.6
Median Age