Political Polarization Score in Zambia
Zambia: Political Polarization Score was -0.195 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.195
Change on year
up 61.2%
World rank
102nd
of 174 countries
All-time high
0.434
in 2021
All-time low
-1.47
in 1911
Years of data
115
1911–2025
Political Polarization Score in Zambia, 1911–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, political polarization score in Zambia stood at -0.195.
The figure is up 61.2% on the previous year and down 203.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, political polarization score in Zambia peaked at 0.434 in 2021 and was at its lowest, -1.47, in 1911.
That places Zambia 102nd out of 174 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.
Political Polarization Score in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | -1.47 | — |
| 1912 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -1.47 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -0.965 | -34.3% |
| 1954 | -0.965 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -0.965 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -0.965 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -0.965 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -0.965 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -0.965 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -0.569 | -41.0% |
| 1961 | -0.79 | +38.8% |
| 1962 | -0.79 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -0.16 | -79.7% |
| 1964 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -0.549 | +243.1% |
| 1975 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -0.549 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | -0.514 | -6.4% |
| 1992 | -0.514 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.514 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.514 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.514 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.346 | -32.7% |
| 1997 | -0.53 | +53.2% |
| 1998 | -0.53 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.53 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.338 | -36.2% |
| 2001 | -0.184 | -45.6% |
| 2002 | -0.372 | +102.2% |
| 2003 | -0.372 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.372 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.372 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.065 | -117.5% |
| 2007 | -0.078 | -220.0% |
| 2008 | 0.025 | -132.1% |
| 2009 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.189 | +656.0% |
| 2015 | 0.189 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.189 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.413 | +118.5% |
| 2018 | 0.413 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.413 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.413 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.434 | +5.1% |
| 2022 | -0.254 | -158.5% |
| 2023 | -0.521 | +105.1% |
| 2024 | -0.502 | -3.6% |
| 2025 | -0.195 | -61.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's -0.195 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -0.095, 2.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's -0.195 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.425. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | -1.47 | -1.47 | -1.47 | 9 |
| 1920s | -1.47 | -1.47 | -1.47 | 10 |
| 1930s | -1.47 | -1.47 | -1.47 | 10 |
| 1940s | -1.47 | -1.47 | -1.47 | 10 |
| 1950s | -1.12 | -1.47 | -0.965 | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.3269 | -0.79 | -0.16 | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.3934 | -0.549 | -0.16 | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.549 | -0.549 | -0.549 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.5055 | -0.549 | -0.346 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.1973 | -0.372 | 0.065 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1906 | 0.025 | 0.413 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.1042 | -0.521 | 0.434 | 6 |
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 political polarization score in Zambia?
- Political polarization score in Zambia was -0.195 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest political polarization score recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.434 in 2021.
- What is the lowest political polarization score recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.47 in 1911.
- How does Zambia rank for political polarization score?
- Zambia ranks 102nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is political polarization score rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 203.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Political Polarization Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 115 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which society is divided into hostile political camps, where political differences undermine social relationships and discourage interaction across ideological lines.