People displaced internally by natural disasters in Zambia
Zambia: People displaced internally by natural disasters was 9,300 number of cases in 2023. ◆ Volatile
People displaced internally by natural disasters in Zambia, 2008–2023
Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in number of cases.
Analysis
In 2023, people displaced internally by natural disasters in Zambia stood at 9,300 number of cases.
The figure is up 158.3% on the previous year and up 69.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, people displaced internally by natural disasters in Zambia peaked at 54,000 number of cases in 2009 and was at its lowest, 21 number of cases, in 2018.
That places Zambia 71st out of 146 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.
People displaced internally by natural disasters in Zambia, year by year
| Year | number of cases | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5,800 number of cases | — |
| 2009 | 54,000 number of cases | +831.0% |
| 2010 | 150 number of cases | -99.7% |
| 2013 | 5,500 number of cases | +3566.7% |
| 2014 | 26,000 number of cases | +372.7% |
| 2015 | 25 number of cases | -99.9% |
| 2017 | 2,800 number of cases | +11100.0% |
| 2018 | 21 number of cases | -99.2% |
| 2019 | 1,300 number of cases | +6090.5% |
| 2020 | 7,200 number of cases | +453.8% |
| 2021 | 1,300 number of cases | -81.9% |
| 2022 | 3,600 number of cases | +176.9% |
| 2023 | 9,300 number of cases | +158.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 9,300 number of cases is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,300 number of cases, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 9,300 number of cases is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22,500 number of cases, 41% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where People displaced internally by natural disasters 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +11100.0% | 25 number of cases | 2,800 number of cases |
| 2019 | +6090.5% | 21 number of cases | 1,300 number of cases |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29,900 number of cases | 5,800 number of cases | 54,000 number of cases | 2 |
| 2010s | 5,114 number of cases | 21 number of cases | 26,000 number of cases | 7 |
| 2020s | 5,350 number of cases | 1,300 number of cases | 9,300 number of cases | 4 |
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)
- 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 people displaced internally by natural disasters in Zambia?
- People displaced internally by natural disasters in Zambia was 9,300 number of cases in 2023, according to Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest people displaced internally by natural disasters recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 54,000 number of cases in 2009.
- What is the lowest people displaced internally by natural disasters recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21 number of cases in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for people displaced internally by natural disasters?
- Zambia ranks 71st out of 146 countries with data for 2023.
- Is people displaced internally by natural disasters rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of People displaced internally by natural disasters. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Internally-displaced persons are defined as people or groups of people who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, as a result of natural or human-made disasters and who have not crossed an international border.