Palma ratio (before tax) in Zambia
Zambia: Palma ratio (before tax) was 10.36 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Palma ratio (before tax) in Zambia, 1929–2022
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for palma ratio (before tax) in Zambia is 10.36, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, palma ratio (before tax) in Zambia peaked at 20.42 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 6.45, in 2002.
That places Zambia 10th out of 113 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Palma ratio (before tax) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 6.93 | — |
| 1930 | 7.25 | +4.6% |
| 1931 | 7.29 | +0.6% |
| 1932 | 7.28 | -0.2% |
| 1933 | 7 | -3.7% |
| 1934 | 7.12 | +1.6% |
| 1935 | 7.26 | +2.1% |
| 1936 | 7.06 | -2.7% |
| 1937 | 7.12 | +0.8% |
| 1943 | 7.68 | +7.9% |
| 1944 | 7.69 | +0.1% |
| 1945 | 7.57 | -1.5% |
| 1946 | 7.89 | +4.2% |
| 1947 | 7.78 | -1.3% |
| 1948 | 7.66 | -1.6% |
| 1949 | 7.66 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | 7.58 | -1.0% |
| 1951 | 7.6 | +0.3% |
| 1952 | 7.92 | +4.3% |
| 1953 | 7.87 | -0.6% |
| 1954 | 8.12 | +3.2% |
| 1955 | 8.43 | +3.7% |
| 1956 | 8.43 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 8.76 | +4.0% |
| 1958 | 9.03 | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 10.17 | +12.6% |
| 1968 | 11.94 | +17.4% |
| 1970 | 12.44 | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 20.42 | +64.1% |
| 1993 | 10.94 | -46.4% |
| 1996 | 8.77 | -19.8% |
| 1998 | 9.24 | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 6.45 | -30.2% |
| 2004 | 12.39 | +92.1% |
| 2006 | 12.6 | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 10.7 | -15.1% |
| 2015 | 13.64 | +27.5% |
| 2022 | 10.36 | -24.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 10.36 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.17, 2.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 10.36 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.07, 2.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Palma ratio (before tax) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +92.1% | 6.45 | 12.39 |
| 1991 | +64.1% | 12.44 | 20.42 |
| 1993 | -46.4% | 20.42 | 10.94 |
| 2002 | -30.2% | 9.24 | 6.45 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 6.93 | 6.93 | 6.93 | 1 |
| 1930s | 7.17 | 7 | 7.29 | 8 |
| 1940s | 7.7 | 7.57 | 7.89 | 7 |
| 1950s | 8.19 | 7.58 | 9.03 | 9 |
| 1960s | 11.05 | 10.17 | 11.94 | 2 |
| 1970s | 12.44 | 12.44 | 12.44 | 1 |
| 1990s | 12.34 | 8.77 | 20.42 | 4 |
| 2000s | 10.48 | 6.45 | 12.6 | 3 |
| 2010s | 12.17 | 10.7 | 13.64 | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.36 | 10.36 | 10.36 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 7 Costa Rica 11.65 compare
- 8 Brazil 11.51 compare
- 9 Peru 11.29 compare
- 11 Zimbabwe 10.09 compare
- 12 Mozambique 9.44 compare
- 13 El Salvador 9.08 compare
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 (before tax) in Zambia?
- Palma ratio (before tax) in Zambia was 10.36 in 2022, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest palma ratio (before tax) recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.42 in 1991.
- What is the lowest palma ratio (before tax) recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.45 in 2002.
- How does Zambia rank for palma ratio (before tax)?
- Zambia ranks 10th out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
- Is palma ratio (before tax) rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Palma ratio (before tax). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 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. Inequality is measured here in terms of income before taxes and benefits.