Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Zambia

Zambia: Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health was 14.0% in 2015. ▼ Falling

Latest (2015)
14.0%
World rank
33rd
of 78 countries
All-time high
34.4%
in 2006
All-time low
14.0%
in 2015
Years of data
5
1996–2015

Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Zambia, 1996–2015

01020301996200520151996: 23.9 %2004: 25.4 %2006: 34.4 %2010: 23.3 %2015: 14 %

Source: Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Zambia is 14.0%, measured in 2015. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

That represents a change of down 45.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Zambia peaked at 34.4% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 14.0%, in 2015.

That places Zambia 33rd out of 78 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.

Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%) in Zambia, 1996 to 2015.
Year % Change
1996 23.9%
2004 25.4% +6.5%
2006 34.4% +35.2%
2010 23.3% -32.2%
2015 14.0% -40.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 23.9% 23.9% 23.9% 1
2000s 29.9% 25.4% 34.4% 2
2010s 18.6% 14.0% 23.3% 2

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 30 Tunisia 18.3% compare
  2. 31 Georgia 18.0% compare
  3. 32 Cambodia 14.1% compare
  4. 34 Mexico 13.6% compare
  5. 35 Greece 13.3% compare
  6. 36 Luxembourg 12.6% compare

See the full ranking of 90 places →

More reference data data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Zambia?
Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Zambia was 14.0% in 2015, according to Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO).
What is the highest proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 34.4% in 2006.
What is the lowest proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 14.0% in 2015.
How does Zambia rank for proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health?
Zambia ranks 33rd out of 78 countries with data for 2015.
Is proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is down 45.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-facing-impoverishing-out-of-pocket-health-expenditure-based-on/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%)
Unit
%
Source
Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
90 places, 1,155 data points, 1985–2024
Last refreshed

Proportion of population spending more than 100% of household discretionary budget on out-of-pocket health expenditure (%). This includes people living in poverty that are further impoverished due to out-of-pocket health expenditure as well as people who are pushed into poverty by out-of-pocket health expenditure. The discretionary budget is defined as the total household budget, measured by consumption expenditure or income, minus the societal poverty line (SPL ). Using 2017 purchasing power parities (PPPs), the SPL corresponds to whichever is greater: $2.15 (the international poverty line) or $1.15 + 50% of median household consumption expenditure or income, excluding out-of-pocket household expenditure on health. Out-of-pocket health expenditure is defined as any spending incurred by a household when any member uses a health good or service to receive any type of care (preventive, curative, rehabilitative, long-term or palliative care); provided by any type of provider; for any type of disease, illness or health condition; in any type of setting (outpatient, inpatient, at home).