Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Zambia
Zambia: Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile was 16.88 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Zambia, 1991–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2022, threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Zambia stood at 16.88 international-$ in 2021 prices.
The figure is down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Zambia peaked at 29.33 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2002 and was at its lowest, 8.4 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1991.
That places Zambia 120th out of 120 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Zambia, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.4 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1993 | 14.34 international-$ in 2021 prices | +70.7% |
| 1996 | 28.54 international-$ in 2021 prices | +99.1% |
| 1998 | 27.71 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 29.33 international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 17.89 international-$ in 2021 prices | -39.0% |
| 2006 | 16.72 international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 18.99 international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.6% |
| 2015 | 16.35 international-$ in 2021 prices | -13.9% |
| 2022 | 16.88 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 16.88 international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 91.51 international-$ in 2021 prices, 18% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 16.88 international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 52.77 international-$ in 2021 prices, 32% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.75 international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.4 international-$ in 2021 prices | 28.54 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
| 2000s | 21.31 international-$ in 2021 prices | 16.72 international-$ in 2021 prices | 29.33 international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
| 2010s | 17.67 international-$ in 2021 prices | 16.35 international-$ in 2021 prices | 18.99 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.88 international-$ in 2021 prices | 16.88 international-$ in 2021 prices | 16.88 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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)
- Political opposition, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament and government, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Zambia?
- Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile in Zambia was 16.88 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.33 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2002.
- What is the lowest threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.4 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1991.
- How does Zambia rank for threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile?
- Zambia ranks 120th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Threshold income or consumption per month marking the poorest decile, the median, and the richest decile. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Level of income or consumption per month below which 10% of the population falls.