State capacity index in Zambia
Zambia: State capacity index was 0.3532 in 2015. ▼ Falling
State capacity index in Zambia, 1964–2015
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for state capacity index in Zambia is 0.3532, measured in 2015.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, state capacity index in Zambia peaked at 0.9807 in 1974 and was at its lowest, 0.1231, in 1987.
That places Zambia 93rd out of 166 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
State capacity index in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 0.1727 | — |
| 1965 | 0.3 | +73.7% |
| 1966 | 0.3159 | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 0.3331 | +5.4% |
| 1968 | 0.3727 | +11.9% |
| 1969 | 0.3202 | -14.1% |
| 1970 | 0.292 | -8.8% |
| 1971 | 0.3136 | +7.4% |
| 1972 | 0.4188 | +33.5% |
| 1973 | 0.7789 | +86.0% |
| 1974 | 0.9807 | +25.9% |
| 1975 | 0.7007 | -28.6% |
| 1976 | 0.6043 | -13.8% |
| 1977 | 0.6826 | +13.0% |
| 1978 | 0.6367 | -6.7% |
| 1979 | 0.6275 | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 0.6989 | +11.4% |
| 1981 | 0.7301 | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 0.6393 | -12.4% |
| 1983 | 0.6969 | +9.0% |
| 1984 | 0.2435 | -65.1% |
| 1985 | 0.2161 | -11.3% |
| 1986 | 0.1517 | -29.8% |
| 1987 | 0.1231 | -18.9% |
| 1988 | 0.2047 | +66.3% |
| 1989 | 0.2592 | +26.6% |
| 1990 | 0.2937 | +13.3% |
| 1991 | 0.1673 | -43.0% |
| 1992 | 0.6275 | +275.1% |
| 1993 | 0.3258 | -48.1% |
| 1994 | 0.3867 | +18.7% |
| 1995 | 0.4251 | +9.9% |
| 1996 | 0.6594 | +55.1% |
| 1997 | 0.595 | -9.8% |
| 1998 | 0.5799 | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 0.5247 | -9.5% |
| 2000 | 0.5464 | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 0.5318 | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 0.5893 | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 0.599 | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 0.5196 | -13.3% |
| 2005 | 0.3436 | -33.9% |
| 2006 | 0.3441 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 0.3633 | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 0.3628 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 0.3515 | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 0.3286 | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 0.3296 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 0.375 | +13.8% |
| 2013 | 0.3232 | -13.8% |
| 2014 | 0.3569 | +10.4% |
| 2015 | 0.3532 | -1.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 0.3532 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0123, 28.8× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 0.3532 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -0.0931. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where State capacity index in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +275.1% | 0.1673 | 0.6275 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.3024 | 0.1727 | 0.3727 | 6 |
| 1970s | 0.6036 | 0.292 | 0.9807 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3963 | 0.1231 | 0.7301 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4585 | 0.1673 | 0.6594 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4551 | 0.3436 | 0.599 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3444 | 0.3232 | 0.375 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.0386 (2026)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.0941 (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.018 (2026)
- Country level monthly temperature anomalies 0.3261 (2026)
- 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)
- Urban area long term, annual growth rate 3.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban area long term, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban area long term, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is state capacity index in Zambia?
- State capacity index in Zambia was 0.3532 in 2015, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest state capacity index recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9807 in 1974.
- What is the lowest state capacity index recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1231 in 1987.
- How does Zambia rank for state capacity index?
- Zambia ranks 93rd out of 166 countries with data for 2015.
- Is state capacity index rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of State capacity index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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