Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in Zambia
Zambia: Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ was 1.68 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
1.68 international-$ in 2021 prices
World rank
119th
of 120 countries
All-time high
2.64 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1996
All-time low
1.66 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2006
Years of data
10
1991–2022
Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ 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, median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in Zambia stood at 1.68 international-$ in 2021 prices.
The figure is down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in Zambia peaked at 2.64 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1996 and was at its lowest, 1.66 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2006.
That places Zambia 119th 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.
Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in Zambia, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.86 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1993 | 1.93 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 2.64 international-$ in 2021 prices | +36.6% |
| 1998 | 2.58 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 2.18 international-$ in 2021 prices | -15.2% |
| 2004 | 1.82 international-$ in 2021 prices | -16.7% |
| 2006 | 1.66 international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 1.74 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 1.82 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.6% |
| 2022 | 1.68 international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.68 international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.17 international-$ in 2021 prices, 27% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1.68 international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.5 international-$ in 2021 prices, 48% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.25 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.86 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.64 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.89 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.66 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.18 international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.78 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.74 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.82 international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.68 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.68 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.68 international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 116 Madagascar 2.24 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 117 Burundi 2.01 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 118 Malawi 1.92 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 120 Mozambique 1.48 international-$ in 2021 prices 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)
- 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 median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in Zambia?
- Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ in Zambia was 1.68 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 median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.64 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1996.
- What is the lowest median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.66 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2006.
- How does Zambia rank for median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$?
- Zambia ranks 119th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$ rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. 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 Median income: 2021 vs. 2017 international-$. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Value of income or consumption per day below which 50% of the population live.