Time required to start a business in Zambia
Zambia: Time required to start a business was 8.5 days in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Time required to start a business in Zambia, 2003–2019
Source: Doing Business project, World Bank (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in days.
Analysis
The most recent figure for time required to start a business in Zambia is 8.5 days, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 17 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 55.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, time required to start a business in Zambia peaked at 36 days in 2003 and was at its lowest, 8.5 days, in 2013.
That places Zambia 124th out of 188 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Time required to start a business in Zambia, year by year
| Year | days | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 36 days | — |
| 2004 | 36 days | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 36 days | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 36 days | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 34 days | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 19 days | -44.1% |
| 2009 | 19 days | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 19 days | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 19 days | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 18.5 days | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 8.5 days | -54.1% |
| 2014 | 8.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 8.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 8.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 8.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 8.5 days | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 8.5 days | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 8.5 days is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15 days, 57% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 8.5 days is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.25 days, 60% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.86 days | 19 days | 36 days | 7 |
| 2010s | 11.6 days | 8.5 days | 19 days | 10 |
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)
- 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)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is time required to start a business in Zambia?
- Time required to start a business in Zambia was 8.5 days in 2019, according to Doing Business project, World Bank (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest time required to start a business recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 36 days in 2003.
- What is the lowest time required to start a business recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5 days in 2013.
- How does Zambia rank for time required to start a business?
- Zambia ranks 124th out of 188 countries with data for 2019.
- Is time required to start a business rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Doing Business project, World Bank (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Time required to start a business. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of calendar days needed to complete the procedures to legally operate a business.