Dietary compositions by commodity group in Zambia
Zambia: Dietary compositions by commodity group was 11.49 kilocalories per day per capita in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
11.49 kilocalories per day per capita
Change on year
down 26.9%
World rank
180th
of 192 countries
All-time high
15.72 kilocalories per day per capita
in 2022
All-time low
2.02 kilocalories per day per capita
in 1985
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Dietary compositions by commodity 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
The most recent figure for dietary compositions by commodity group in Zambia is 11.49 kilocalories per day per capita, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 26.9% on the previous year and down 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, dietary compositions by commodity group in Zambia peaked at 15.72 kilocalories per day per capita in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.02 kilocalories per day per capita, in 1985.
Zambia ranks 180th of 192 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Dietary compositions by commodity group in Zambia, year by year
| Year | kilocalories per day per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.85 kilocalories per day per capita | — |
| 1962 | 5.84 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 5.83 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 5.83 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 4.85 kilocalories per day per capita | -16.8% |
| 1966 | 5.81 kilocalories per day per capita | +19.8% |
| 1967 | 5.8 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 5.8 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 5.8 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 5.82 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 8.78 kilocalories per day per capita | +50.9% |
| 1972 | 6.87 kilocalories per day per capita | -21.8% |
| 1973 | 5.92 kilocalories per day per capita | -13.8% |
| 1974 | 7.93 kilocalories per day per capita | +34.0% |
| 1975 | 4.97 kilocalories per day per capita | -37.3% |
| 1976 | 4.99 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 4 kilocalories per day per capita | -19.8% |
| 1978 | 4.01 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita | -24.8% |
| 1980 | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 3.03 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 4.04 kilocalories per day per capita | +33.3% |
| 1983 | 2.02 kilocalories per day per capita | -50.0% |
| 1984 | 2.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 2.02 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +49.9% |
| 1987 | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 5.04 kilocalories per day per capita | +66.7% |
| 1991 | 5.04 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 6.04 kilocalories per day per capita | +19.9% |
| 1993 | 5.03 kilocalories per day per capita | -16.7% |
| 1994 | 5.03 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 7.04 kilocalories per day per capita | +40.1% |
| 1996 | 4.03 kilocalories per day per capita | -42.8% |
| 1997 | 6.05 kilocalories per day per capita | +50.2% |
| 1998 | 5.05 kilocalories per day per capita | -16.6% |
| 1999 | 7.07 kilocalories per day per capita | +40.0% |
| 2000 | 9.07 kilocalories per day per capita | +28.3% |
| 2001 | 6.02 kilocalories per day per capita | -33.6% |
| 2002 | 5.99 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 5.95 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 6.9 kilocalories per day per capita | +15.9% |
| 2005 | 6.85 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 7.77 kilocalories per day per capita | +13.4% |
| 2007 | 8.67 kilocalories per day per capita | +11.6% |
| 2008 | 8.61 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 8.56 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 12.4 kilocalories per day per capita | +44.9% |
| 2011 | 12.36 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 12.94 kilocalories per day per capita | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 13.54 kilocalories per day per capita | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 13.3 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 11.58 kilocalories per day per capita | -12.9% |
| 2016 | 11.39 kilocalories per day per capita | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 11.75 kilocalories per day per capita | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 11.7 kilocalories per day per capita | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 12.41 kilocalories per day per capita | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 12.56 kilocalories per day per capita | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 11.31 kilocalories per day per capita | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 15.72 kilocalories per day per capita | +39.0% |
| 2023 | 11.49 kilocalories per day per capita | -26.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 11.49 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 41.87 kilocalories per day per capita, 27% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 11.49 kilocalories per day per capita is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.71 kilocalories per day per capita, 40% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Dietary compositions by commodity group 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +66.7% | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita | 5.04 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1971 | +50.9% | 5.82 kilocalories per day per capita | 8.78 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1997 | +50.2% | 4.03 kilocalories per day per capita | 6.05 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1983 | -50.0% | 4.04 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.02 kilocalories per day per capita |
| 1986 | +49.9% | 2.02 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.71 kilocalories per day per capita | 4.85 kilocalories per day per capita | 5.85 kilocalories per day per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.63 kilocalories per day per capita | 3.02 kilocalories per day per capita | 8.78 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.82 kilocalories per day per capita | 2.02 kilocalories per day per capita | 4.04 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.54 kilocalories per day per capita | 4.03 kilocalories per day per capita | 7.07 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.44 kilocalories per day per capita | 5.95 kilocalories per day per capita | 9.07 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.34 kilocalories per day per capita | 11.39 kilocalories per day per capita | 13.54 kilocalories per day per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.77 kilocalories per day per capita | 11.31 kilocalories per day per capita | 15.72 kilocalories per day per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 177 Kenya 14.81 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 178 USSR 12.93 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 179 Afghanistan 11.95 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 181 Angola 10.85 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 182 Guinea-Bissau 10.1 kilocalories per day per capita compare
- 183 Rwanda 10.02 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 dietary compositions by commodity group in Zambia?
- Dietary compositions by commodity group in Zambia was 11.49 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 dietary compositions by commodity group recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 15.72 kilocalories per day per capita in 2022.
- What is the lowest dietary compositions by commodity group recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.02 kilocalories per day per capita in 1985.
- How does Zambia rank for dietary compositions by commodity group?
- Zambia ranks 180th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is dietary compositions by commodity group rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Dietary compositions by commodity group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average per capita dietary energy supply by commodity groups, measured in kilocalories per person per day.