Number of daily smokers in Zambia
Zambia: Number of daily smokers was 854,674 in 2012. ▲ Rising
Number of daily smokers in Zambia, 1980–2012
Source: IHME (2012) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2012, number of daily smokers in Zambia stood at 854,674. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 37.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of daily smokers in Zambia peaked at 854,674 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 381,862, in 1980.
That places Zambia 91st out of 186 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Number of daily smokers in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 381,862 | — |
| 1981 | 392,102 | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 402,531 | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 413,974 | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 425,153 | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 436,707 | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 448,016 | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 460,008 | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 472,417 | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 484,288 | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 495,861 | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 507,070 | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 518,027 | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 529,444 | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 540,621 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 553,012 | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 566,447 | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 577,881 | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 589,503 | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 600,339 | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 609,767 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 617,373 | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 620,853 | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 616,123 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 631,444 | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 652,548 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 679,278 | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 709,207 | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 736,308 | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 763,878 | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 792,719 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 822,985 | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 854,674 | +3.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 854,674 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 805,645, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 854,674 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 489,280, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 431,706 | 381,862 | 484,288 | 10 |
| 1990s | 547,820 | 495,861 | 600,339 | 10 |
| 2000s | 663,678 | 609,767 | 763,878 | 10 |
| 2010s | 823,459 | 792,719 | 854,674 | 3 |
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 number of daily smokers in Zambia?
- Number of daily smokers in Zambia was 854,674 in 2012, according to IHME (2012) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of daily smokers recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 854,674 in 2012.
- What is the lowest number of daily smokers recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 381,862 in 1980.
- How does Zambia rank for number of daily smokers?
- Zambia ranks 91st out of 186 countries with data for 2012.
- Is number of daily smokers rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from IHME (2012) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of daily smokers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimates of the total number of people who smoke cigarettes at least daily (across men and women of all ages).