Affordability of cigarettes in Zambia
Zambia: Affordability of cigarettes was 8.6% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Affordability of cigarettes in Zambia, 2012–2022
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for affordability of cigarettes in Zambia is 8.6%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 24.1% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, affordability of cigarettes in Zambia peaked at 13.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2014.
Zambia ranks 40th of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Affordability of cigarettes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 9.0% | — |
| 2014 | 8.5% | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 13.2% | +55.3% |
| 2018 | 11.3% | -14.1% |
| 2020 | 11.4% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 8.6% | -24.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 8.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7.0%, 1.2× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 8.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.8%, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 10.5% | 8.5% | 13.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 10.0% | 8.6% | 11.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 37 Ecuador 9.4% compare
- 38 Tajikistan 9.2% compare
- 39 Kyrgyzstan 8.8% compare
- 41 Comoros 8.3% compare
- 42 Senegal 8.3% compare
- 43 Cape Verde 8.0% compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is affordability of cigarettes in Zambia?
- Affordability of cigarettes in Zambia was 8.6% in 2022, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest affordability of cigarettes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.2% in 2016.
- What is the lowest affordability of cigarettes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2014.
- How does Zambia rank for affordability of cigarettes?
- Zambia ranks 40th out of 176 countries with data for 2022.
- Is affordability of cigarettes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Affordability of cigarettes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Price of 100 packs of cigarettes as a share of GDP per capita. This price is based on the most-sold brand of cigarettes in a given country and includes taxes. Lower values indicate that cigarettes are more affordable.