Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Zambia
Zambia: Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes was 343,200 trips in 2021. ▲ Rising
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Zambia, 1995–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in trips.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Zambia is 343,200 trips, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 19.6% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Zambia peaked at 686,000 trips in 2019 and was at its lowest, 124,000 trips, in 1995.
That places Zambia 111th out of 179 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Zambia, year by year
| Year | trips | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 124,000 trips | — |
| 1996 | 155,000 trips | +25.0% |
| 1997 | 201,000 trips | +29.7% |
| 1998 | 195,000 trips | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 220,000 trips | +12.8% |
| 2000 | 256,000 trips | +16.4% |
| 2001 | 291,000 trips | +13.7% |
| 2002 | 317,000 trips | +8.9% |
| 2003 | 257,000 trips | -18.9% |
| 2004 | 355,000 trips | +38.1% |
| 2005 | 416,000 trips | +17.2% |
| 2006 | 466,000 trips | +12.0% |
| 2007 | 557,000 trips | +19.5% |
| 2008 | 472,000 trips | -15.3% |
| 2009 | 381,000 trips | -19.3% |
| 2010 | 373,000 trips | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 349,500 trips | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 385,000 trips | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 379,400 trips | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 513,000 trips | +35.2% |
| 2015 | 349,600 trips | -31.9% |
| 2016 | 407,800 trips | +16.6% |
| 2017 | 410,100 trips | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 445,300 trips | +8.6% |
| 2019 | 686,000 trips | +54.1% |
| 2020 | 286,900 trips | -58.2% |
| 2021 | 343,200 trips | +19.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 343,200 trips is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 369,200 trips, 93% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 343,200 trips is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 228,750 trips, 1.5× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 179,000 trips | 124,000 trips | 220,000 trips | 5 |
| 2000s | 376,800 trips | 256,000 trips | 557,000 trips | 10 |
| 2010s | 429,870 trips | 349,500 trips | 686,000 trips | 10 |
| 2020s | 315,050 trips | 286,900 trips | 343,200 trips | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 108 Togo 369,200 trips compare
- 109 Saint Lucia 350,800 trips compare
- 110 Ghana 346,700 trips compare
- 112 British Virgin Islands 343,000 trips compare
- 113 Trinidad and Tobago 334,000 trips compare
- 114 Cote d'Ivoire 329,100 trips 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 arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Zambia?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes in Zambia was 343,200 trips in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 686,000 trips in 2019.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 124,000 trips in 1995.
- How does Zambia rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes?
- Zambia ranks 111th out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Arrivals of tourists from abroad for personal purposes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of international trips where the main purpose is personal (leisure, visiting friends and relatives, health, etc.) and the visitor stays overnight.