Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Zambia
Zambia: Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters was 1.47 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Zambia, 1982–2025
Source: EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Zambia stood at 1.47 million people.
The figure is down 82.4% on the previous year and up 105.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Zambia peaked at 8.33 million people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 people, in 1982.
That places Zambia 28th out of 78 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 0 people | — |
| 1991 | 848,837 people | — |
| 1992 | 851,163 people | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 1.27 million people | +49.6% |
| 2005 | 1.20 million people | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 714,021 people | -40.5% |
| 2020 | 715,979 people | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 636,148 people | -11.1% |
| 2022 | 943,852 people | +48.4% |
| 2024 | 8.33 million people | +782.8% |
| 2025 | 1.47 million people | -82.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.47 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 933,054 people, 1.6× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1.47 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.70 million people, 86% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 people | 0 people | 0 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 991,067 people | 848,837 people | 1.27 million people | 3 |
| 2000s | 1.20 million people | 1.20 million people | 1.20 million people | 1 |
| 2010s | 714,021 people | 714,021 people | 714,021 people | 1 |
| 2020s | 2.42 million people | 636,148 people | 8.33 million people | 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)
- 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 annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Zambia?
- Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters in Zambia was 1.47 million people in 2025, according to EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual number of people affected by all natural disasters recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.33 million people in 2024.
- What is the lowest annual number of people affected by all natural disasters recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 people in 1982.
- How does Zambia rank for annual number of people affected by all natural disasters?
- Zambia ranks 28th out of 78 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual number of people affected by all natural disasters rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 105.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual number of people affected by all natural disasters. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of people affected by a natural disaster.