Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Zambia
Zambia: Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day was 81.4% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Zambia, 1991–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 81.4% for poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in 2022.
The figure is up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Zambia peaked at 81.9% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 70.3%, in 1996.
That places Zambia 5th out of 120 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 72.8% | — |
| 1993 | 78.4% | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 70.3% | -10.2% |
| 1998 | 71.1% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 81.9% | +15.2% |
| 2004 | 79.2% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 81.5% | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 81.4% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 78.4% | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 81.4% | +3.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 81.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 23.5%, 3.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 81.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 62.1%, 1.3× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 73.2% | 70.3% | 78.4% | 4 |
| 2000s | 80.9% | 79.2% | 81.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 79.9% | 78.4% | 81.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 81.4% | 81.4% | 81.4% | 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)
- 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 poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Zambia?
- Poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day in Zambia was 81.4% in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 81.9% in 2002.
- What is the lowest poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.3% in 1996.
- How does Zambia rank for poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day?
- Zambia ranks 5th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is poverty: share of population living on less than $4.20 a day rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Poverty: Share of population living on less than $4.20 a day. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $4.20 per day.