Private Civil Liberties Index in Zambia
Zambia: Private Civil Liberties Index was 0.769 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.769
Change on year
down 6.1%
World rank
86th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.868
in 2022
All-time low
0.122
in 1924
Years of data
115
1911–2025
Private Civil Liberties Index in Zambia, 1911–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 0.769 for private civil liberties index in 2025.
That represents a change of down 6.1% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, private civil liberties index in Zambia peaked at 0.868 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.122, in 1924.
Zambia ranks 86th of 176 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.
Private Civil Liberties Index in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 0.147 | — |
| 1912 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.122 | -17.0% |
| 1925 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.122 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.125 | +2.5% |
| 1941 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.132 | +5.6% |
| 1955 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.132 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.419 | +217.4% |
| 1965 | 0.494 | +17.9% |
| 1966 | 0.481 | -2.6% |
| 1967 | 0.481 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.481 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.481 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.493 | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 0.506 | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 0.506 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.506 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.497 | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.497 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.545 | +9.7% |
| 1985 | 0.545 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.545 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.545 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.545 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.545 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.598 | +9.7% |
| 1991 | 0.698 | +16.7% |
| 1992 | 0.779 | +11.6% |
| 1993 | 0.779 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.779 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.779 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.779 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.779 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.779 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.779 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.779 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.779 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.775 | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 0.775 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.775 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.773 | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 0.773 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.773 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.777 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 0.777 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.758 | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 0.757 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 0.757 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.737 | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 0.737 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.727 | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 0.741 | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 0.726 | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 0.778 | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 0.757 | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 0.772 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 0.768 | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 0.868 | +13.0% |
| 2023 | 0.847 | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 0.819 | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 0.769 | -6.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 0.769 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.671, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 0.769 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.682, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0.147 | 0.147 | 0.147 | 9 |
| 1920s | 0.132 | 0.122 | 0.147 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.122 | 0.122 | 0.122 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.125 | 0.125 | 0.125 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1292 | 0.125 | 0.132 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.3365 | 0.132 | 0.494 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4993 | 0.493 | 0.506 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5258 | 0.497 | 0.545 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7528 | 0.598 | 0.779 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7756 | 0.773 | 0.779 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7475 | 0.726 | 0.778 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8072 | 0.768 | 0.868 | 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 private civil liberties index in Zambia?
- Private civil liberties index in Zambia was 0.769 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest private civil liberties index recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.868 in 2022.
- What is the lowest private civil liberties index recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.122 in 1924.
- How does Zambia rank for private civil liberties index?
- Zambia ranks 86th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is private civil liberties index rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. 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 Private Civil Liberties Index. 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 the extent to which people are free from forced labor, have property rights, and enjoy freedom of movement and religion.