Air passengers in Zambia
Zambia: Air passengers was 321,739 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Zambia, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, air passengers in Zambia stood at 321,739.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 40.7% on the previous year and up 3,107.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Zambia peaked at 407,200 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 8,592, in 2014.
That places Zambia 127th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 187,800 | — |
| 1971 | 214,200 | +14.1% |
| 1972 | 230,100 | +7.4% |
| 1973 | 230,600 | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 240,600 | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 232,600 | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 256,800 | +10.4% |
| 1977 | 299,400 | +16.6% |
| 1978 | 317,100 | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 295,700 | -6.7% |
| 1980 | 257,400 | -13.0% |
| 1981 | 278,300 | +8.1% |
| 1982 | 253,100 | -9.1% |
| 1983 | 236,700 | -6.5% |
| 1984 | 245,600 | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 253,900 | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 237,700 | -6.4% |
| 1987 | 257,900 | +8.5% |
| 1988 | 303,500 | +17.7% |
| 1989 | 365,300 | +20.4% |
| 1990 | 407,200 | +11.5% |
| 1991 | 292,500 | -28.2% |
| 1992 | 246,000 | -15.9% |
| 1993 | 219,000 | -11.0% |
| 1994 | 234,700 | +7.2% |
| 1997 | 49,600 | -78.9% |
| 1998 | 48,800 | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 77,700 | +59.2% |
| 2000 | 89,628 | +15.4% |
| 2001 | 48,517 | -45.9% |
| 2002 | 47,075 | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 50,977 | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 49,888 | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 53,880 | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 58,679 | +8.9% |
| 2007 | 61,589 | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 62,467 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 260,502 | +317.0% |
| 2011 | 306,034 | +17.5% |
| 2012 | 127,297 | -58.4% |
| 2013 | 10,032 | -92.1% |
| 2014 | 8,592 | -14.4% |
| 2015 | 203,617 | +2269.8% |
| 2016 | 144,060 | -29.2% |
| 2017 | 154,573 | +7.3% |
| 2018 | 16,633 | -89.2% |
| 2019 | 17,506 | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 8,718 | -50.2% |
| 2021 | 136,610 | +1467.0% |
| 2022 | 228,651 | +67.4% |
| 2023 | 321,739 | +40.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 321,739 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 690,677, 47% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 321,739 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 109,542, 2.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +2269.8% | 8,592 | 203,617 |
| 2021 | +1467.0% | 8,718 | 136,610 |
| 2010 | +317.0% | 62,467 | 260,502 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 250,490 | 187,800 | 317,100 | 10 |
| 1980s | 268,940 | 236,700 | 365,300 | 10 |
| 1990s | 196,938 | 48,800 | 407,200 | 8 |
| 2000s | 58,078 | 47,075 | 89,628 | 9 |
| 2010s | 124,885 | 8,592 | 306,034 | 10 |
| 2020s | 173,929 | 8,718 | 321,739 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 124 Vanuatu 359,290 compare
- 125 Cameroon 331,025 compare
- 126 Mauritania 328,992 compare
- 128 Georgia 320,810 compare
- 129 Madagascar 313,313 compare
- 130 Seychelles 236,917 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 air passengers in Zambia?
- Air passengers in Zambia was 321,739 in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 407,200 in 1990.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,592 in 2014.
- How does Zambia rank for air passengers?
- Zambia ranks 127th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,107.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.