Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in Zambia
Zambia: Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank was 17.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in Zambia, 1991–2022
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in Zambia is 17.2%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in Zambia peaked at 22.6% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 16.1%, in 1993.
Zambia ranks 24th of 109 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.1% | — |
| 1993 | 16.1% | -10.9% |
| 1996 | 18.2% | +12.7% |
| 1998 | 19.6% | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 18.8% | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 22.6% | +20.3% |
| 2006 | 20.9% | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | -13.3% |
| 2015 | 21.6% | +19.2% |
| 2022 | 17.2% | -20.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 17.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15.6%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 17.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.8%, 1.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.0% | 16.1% | 19.6% | 4 |
| 2000s | 20.8% | 18.8% | 22.6% | 3 |
| 2010s | 19.9% | 18.1% | 21.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 17.2% | 17.2% | 17.2% | 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 income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in Zambia?
- Income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank in Zambia was 17.2% in 2022, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.6% in 2004.
- What is the lowest income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.1% in 1993.
- How does Zambia rank for income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank?
- Zambia ranks 24th out of 109 countries with data for 2022.
- Is income share of the richest 1%: world inequality database vs. world bank rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Income share of the richest 1%: World Inequality Database vs. World Bank. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of income received by the richest 1% of the population. Income here is measured after taxes and benefits.