Wealth share of the richest 1% in Zambia
Zambia: Wealth share of the richest 1% was 36.5% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Wealth share of the richest 1% in Zambia, 1980–2024
Source: World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for wealth share of the richest 1% in Zambia is 36.5%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wealth share of the richest 1% in Zambia peaked at 39.4% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 30.1%, in 2002.
Zambia ranks 22nd of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Wealth share of the richest 1% in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 38.8% | — |
| 1981 | 38.8% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 38.8% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 38.8% | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 38.8% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 38.8% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 38.8% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 38.8% | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 38.8% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 38.8% | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 38.8% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 38.8% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 38.2% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 36.3% | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 34.6% | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 33.9% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 33.5% | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 34.1% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 36.1% | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 33.4% | -7.6% |
| 2000 | 31.8% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 30.9% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 30.1% | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 36.3% | +20.8% |
| 2004 | 39.3% | +8.2% |
| 2005 | 39.3% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 39.3% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 39.2% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 39.0% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 38.8% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 38.6% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 38.8% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 39.0% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 39.2% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 39.3% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 39.4% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 39.2% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 39.0% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 38.7% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 38.5% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 38.2% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 37.8% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 36.5% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 36.5% | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 36.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 27.2%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 36.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.3%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 38.8% | 38.8% | 38.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 35.8% | 33.4% | 38.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.4% | 30.1% | 39.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.0% | 38.5% | 39.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.1% | 36.5% | 38.2% | 5 |
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 wealth share of the richest 1% in Zambia?
- Wealth share of the richest 1% in Zambia was 36.5% in 2024, according to World Inequality Database (WID.world) (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest wealth share of the richest 1% recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 39.4% in 2015.
- What is the lowest wealth share of the richest 1% recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.1% in 2002.
- How does Zambia rank for wealth share of the richest 1%?
- Zambia ranks 22nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is wealth share of the richest 1% rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Wealth share of the richest 1%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of wealth owned by the richest 1% of the population. Wealth is defined as the total value of non-financial and financial assets (housing, land, deposits, bonds, equities, etc.) held by households, minus their debts.