Calorie supply by food group in Zambia
Zambia: Calorie supply by food group was 2,020 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
2,020 kilocalories per day per capita
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
163rd
of 192 countries
All-time high
2,270 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1977
All-time low
1,613 kilocalories per day per capita
in 2007
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Calorie supply by food group in Zambia, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilocalories per day per capita.
Analysis
In 2023, calorie supply by food group in Zambia stood at 2,020 kilocalories per day per capita.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, calorie supply by food group in Zambia peaked at 2,270 kilocalories per day per capita in 1977 and was at its lowest, 1,613 kilocalories per day per capita, in 2007.
Zambia ranks 163rd of 192 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Calorie supply by food group in Zambia, year by year
| Year | kilocalories per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,979 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 1,975 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 1,923 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.7% |
| 1964 | 1,875 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.5% |
| 1965 | 1,851 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.3% |
| 1966 | 1,966 kilocalories per day per capita | +6.2% |
| 1967 | 1,986 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 2,005 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 2,016 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 2,011 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 1971 | 2,048 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 2,061 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 2,132 kilocalories per day per capita | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 2,135 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 2,149 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 2,175 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 2,270 kilocalories per day per capita | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 2,156 kilocalories per day per capita | -5.0% |
| 1979 | 2,171 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 2,157 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 2,139 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 2,031 kilocalories per day per capita | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 2,046 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 2,037 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 1,932 kilocalories per day per capita | -5.2% |
| 1986 | 1,961 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 1,945 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 1,980 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 1,988 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 1,977 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 1,900 kilocalories per day per capita | -3.9% |
| 1992 | 1,872 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 1,876 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 1,915 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 1,955 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 1,946 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 1,876 kilocalories per day per capita | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 1,839 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 1,865 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 1,781 kilocalories per day per capita | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 1,751 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 1,739 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 1,781 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 1,739 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 1,730 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 1,689 kilocalories per day per capita | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 1,613 kilocalories per day per capita | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 1,622 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 1,680 kilocalories per day per capita | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 1,774 kilocalories per day per capita | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 1,811 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 1,822 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 1,857 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 1,911 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 1,942 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 2,011 kilocalories per day per capita | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 2,049 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 2,077 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 2,081 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 2,054 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 2,036 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 1,971 kilocalories per day per capita | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 2,020 kilocalories per day per capita | +2.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 2,020 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2,351 kilocalories per day per capita, 86% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 2,020 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2,293 kilocalories per day per capita, 88% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,953 kilocalories per day per capita | 1,851 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,016 kilocalories per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 2,131 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,011 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,270 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,022 kilocalories per day per capita | 1,932 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,157 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,902 kilocalories per day per capita | 1,839 kilocalories per day per capita | 1,977 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,712 kilocalories per day per capita | 1,613 kilocalories per day per capita | 1,781 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,934 kilocalories per day per capita | 1,774 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,081 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,020 kilocalories per day per capita | 1,971 kilocalories per day per capita | 2,054 kilocalories per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 160 Maldives 2,048 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 161 Tonga 2,047 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 162 Estonia 2,029 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 164 Liberia 2,020 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 165 East Timor 2,018 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 166 Macao 2,017 kilocalories per day per capita 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 calorie supply by food group in Zambia?
- Calorie supply by food group in Zambia was 2,020 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest calorie supply by food group recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2,270 kilocalories per day per capita in 1977.
- What is the lowest calorie supply by food group recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,613 kilocalories per day per capita in 2007.
- How does Zambia rank for calorie supply by food group?
- Zambia ranks 163rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is calorie supply by food group rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Calorie supply by food group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.