Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people in Zambia
Zambia: Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people was 2.94 per 1,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people in Zambia, 2005–2022
Source: World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for nurses and midwives per 1,000 people in Zambia is 2.94 per 1,000 people, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is up 58.6% on the previous year and up 312.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nurses and midwives per 1,000 people in Zambia peaked at 2.94 per 1,000 people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.69 per 1,000 people, in 2006.
Zambia ranks 114th of 188 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.
Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people in Zambia, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 0.714 per 1,000 people | — |
| 2006 | 0.69 per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 0.698 per 1,000 people | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 0.704 per 1,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 0.711 per 1,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 0.9 per 1,000 people | +26.6% |
| 2018 | 1.27 per 1,000 people | +41.4% |
| 2019 | 1.42 per 1,000 people | +11.4% |
| 2020 | 1.63 per 1,000 people | +14.7% |
| 2021 | 1.85 per 1,000 people | +13.8% |
| 2022 | 2.94 per 1,000 people | +58.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 2.94 per 1,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.63 per 1,000 people, 1.8× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 2.94 per 1,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.14 per 1,000 people, 2.6× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.7015 per 1,000 people | 0.69 per 1,000 people | 0.714 per 1,000 people | 4 |
| 2010s | 1.08 per 1,000 people | 0.711 per 1,000 people | 1.42 per 1,000 people | 4 |
| 2020s | 2.14 per 1,000 people | 1.63 per 1,000 people | 2.94 per 1,000 people | 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)
- 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 nurses and midwives per 1,000 people in Zambia?
- Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people in Zambia was 2.94 per 1,000 people in 2022, according to World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest nurses and midwives per 1,000 people recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.94 per 1,000 people in 2022.
- What is the lowest nurses and midwives per 1,000 people recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.69 per 1,000 people in 2006.
- How does Zambia rank for nurses and midwives per 1,000 people?
- Zambia ranks 114th out of 188 countries with data for 2022.
- Is nurses and midwives per 1,000 people rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 312.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (Global Health Workforce Statistics), OECD, and country data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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