Share of single-parent households in Zambia
Zambia: Share of single-parent households was 9.6% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Share of single-parent households in Zambia, 1990–2018
Source: United Nations (2022) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 9.6% for share of single-parent households in 2018. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of single-parent households in Zambia peaked at 9.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 1992.
Zambia ranks 35th of 70 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of single-parent households in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7.3% | — |
| 1992 | 4.1% | -43.9% |
| 1996 | 6.2% | +52.8% |
| 1999 | 7.9% | +26.7% |
| 2000 | 8.1% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | -23.3% |
| 2007 | 7.7% | +23.6% |
| 2013 | 8.0% | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 9.6% | +21.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 9.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.3%, 1.0× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 9.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.6%, 1.0× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.4% | 4.1% | 7.9% | 4 |
| 2000s | 7.3% | 6.2% | 8.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 8.8% | 8.0% | 9.6% | 2 |
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 share of single-parent households in Zambia?
- Share of single-parent households in Zambia was 9.6% in 2018, according to United Nations (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of single-parent households recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of single-parent households recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 1992.
- How does Zambia rank for share of single-parent households?
- Zambia ranks 35th out of 70 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of single-parent households rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations (2022) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of single-parent households. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Percentage of households comprised of a single parent and his or her children (biological, step, and adopted/foster children), irrespective of children’s ages, and no one else.