Palma ratio in Zambia
Zambia: Palma ratio was 3.5 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Palma ratio in Zambia, 1991–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for palma ratio in Zambia is 3.5, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palma ratio in Zambia peaked at 7.14 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 2.07, in 2002.
Zambia ranks 4th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Palma ratio in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.14 | — |
| 1993 | 3.88 | -45.6% |
| 1996 | 2.91 | -25.0% |
| 1998 | 3.06 | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 2.07 | -32.5% |
| 2004 | 4.09 | +97.7% |
| 2006 | 4.16 | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 3.55 | -14.7% |
| 2015 | 4.59 | +29.2% |
| 2022 | 3.5 | -23.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.5 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.45, 2.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.5 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.65, 2.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.25 | 2.91 | 7.14 | 4 |
| 2000s | 3.44 | 2.07 | 4.16 | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.07 | 3.55 | 4.59 | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1 |
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 palma ratio in Zambia?
- Palma ratio in Zambia was 3.5 in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest palma ratio recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.14 in 1991.
- What is the lowest palma ratio recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.07 in 2002.
- How does Zambia rank for palma ratio?
- Zambia ranks 4th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is palma ratio rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. 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 Palma ratio. 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
The Palma ratio is a measure of inequality that divides the share received by the richest 10% by the share of the poorest 40%. Higher values indicate higher inequality.