Milk production in Zambia
Zambia: Milk production was 525,394 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Milk production in Zambia, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, milk production in Zambia stood at 525,394 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and up 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, milk production in Zambia peaked at 542,689 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 39,000 tonnes, in 1961.
Zambia ranks 96th of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Milk production in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 39,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 39,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 39,300 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 39,600 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 39,900 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 40,500 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 41,100 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1968 | 42,000 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 42,900 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 43,800 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 45,000 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 45,900 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 47,100 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 47,700 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 49,800 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1976 | 54,000 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1977 | 56,100 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 57,300 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 59,700 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 58,800 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 62,700 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1982 | 66,300 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 63,000 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1984 | 59,700 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1985 | 66,600 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1986 | 68,100 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 70,200 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 71,100 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 72,300 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 77,700 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 372,782 tonnes | +379.8% |
| 1992 | 386,750 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 399,333 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 339,153 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1995 | 374,380 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1996 | 349,372 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 261,760 tonnes | -25.1% |
| 1998 | 271,533 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 291,049 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2000 | 346,780 tonnes | +19.1% |
| 2001 | 360,759 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 388,680 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2003 | 388,734 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 374,847 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 388,841 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 374,951 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 388,949 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 395,978 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 403,009 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 410,043 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 410,099 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 410,156 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 410,213 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 417,252 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 382,500 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 375,600 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 396,700 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 429,024 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 447,232 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 436,592 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 461,905 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 509,515 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 2023 | 542,689 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2024 | 525,394 tonnes | -3.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 525,394 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 289,670 tonnes, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 525,394 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 188,438 tonnes, 2.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Milk production 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +379.8% | 77,700 tonnes | 372,782 tonnes |
| 1997 | -25.1% | 349,372 tonnes | 261,760 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 40,367 tonnes | 39,000 tonnes | 42,900 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 50,640 tonnes | 43,800 tonnes | 59,700 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 65,880 tonnes | 58,800 tonnes | 72,300 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 312,381 tonnes | 77,700 tonnes | 399,333 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 381,153 tonnes | 346,780 tonnes | 403,009 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 408,882 tonnes | 375,600 tonnes | 447,232 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 495,219 tonnes | 436,592 tonnes | 542,689 tonnes | 5 |
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 milk production in Zambia?
- Milk production in Zambia was 525,394 tonnes in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest milk production recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 542,689 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest milk production recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,000 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Zambia rank for milk production?
- Zambia ranks 96th out of 192 countries with data for 2024.
- Is milk production rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Milk production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Milk represents the raw equivalents of all dairy products including cheese, yoghurt, cream and milk consumed as the final product.