Institutionalized democracy in Zambia
Zambia: Institutionalized democracy was 7 in 2011. ◆ Volatile
Institutionalized democracy in Zambia, 1964–2011
Source: Center for Systemic Peace, www.systemicpeace.org/polity/polity4.htm.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 7 for institutionalized democracy in 2011. That is the highest value across all 48 years on record.
The figure is up 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, institutionalized democracy in Zambia peaked at 7 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1972.
That places Zambia 10th out of 51 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Institutionalized democracy in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 4 | — |
| 1965 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 1969 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1973 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 6 | — |
| 1992 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 3 | -50.0% |
| 1997 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 5 | +66.7% |
| 2002 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 7 | +40.0% |
| 2009 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 7 | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 7 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3, 2.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 7 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5, 1.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.67 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 1970s | 0.6 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.2 | 0 | 6 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.2 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
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 institutionalized democracy in Zambia?
- Institutionalized democracy in Zambia was 7 in 2011, according to Center for Systemic Peace, www.systemicpeace.org/polity/polity4.htm.
- What is the highest institutionalized democracy recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 2008.
- What is the lowest institutionalized democracy recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1972.
- How does Zambia rank for institutionalized democracy?
- Zambia ranks 10th out of 51 countries with data for 2011.
- Is institutionalized democracy rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Center for Systemic Peace, www.systemicpeace.org/polity/polity4.htm, published as part of Institutionalized democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Democracy is conceived as three essential, interdependent elements. One is the presence of institutions and procedures through which citizens can express effective preferences about alternative policies and leaders. Second is the existence of institutionalized constraints on the exercise of power by the executive. Third is the guarantee of civil liberties to all citizens in their daily lives and in acts of political participation. Other aspects of plural democracy, such as the rule of law, systems of checks and balances, freedom of the press, and so on are means to, or specific manifestations of, these general principles. We do not include coded data on civil liberties.