Zambia profile

Demography and Health

Zambia has about 21.3 million people as of 2024, placing it in the middle range among its regional peers. The population is relatively young, which is reflected in high birth rates (33.1 births per 1,000 people in 2023) and a life expectancy at birth of 66.3 years in 2023. A high crude birth rate coupled with a low death rate supports a growing population, while a substantial under-5 mortality rate of 44.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023 signals persistent child-health challenges. The prevalence of undernourishment sits at 35.4% (2022), underscoring widespread food insecurity that can drive poor child and maternal health outcomes even as the overall life expectancy suggests some health gains are materializing. Population growth and malnutrition together imply rising demand for health services, nutrition programs, and social protection as drivers of development.

Health indicators reveal a health system under pressure: life expectancy remains below many regional peers, and key health workforce indicators show constraints, with physicians at 0.262 per 1,000 people (2022). Domestic general government health expenditure per capita (PPP, current international US$) is about 99 (2022), and current health expenditure accounts for 5.26% of GDP (2022). These numbers point to limited fiscal capacity in health and a relatively lean workforce, which can constrain service delivery and access, especially in rural areas. The suicide mortality rate stands at 7.13 per 100,000 (2021), a data point that, while not alarming at a national level, remains a concern for mental-health services. Net migration is positive (about 7,381 in 2024), suggesting that cross-border movements may reflect labor market opportunities, remittance flows, or push/pull factors that can affect the balance of health workforce and service demand across borders. Poverty remains severe, with 60% of the population living under national poverty lines in 2022, underscoring that health gains must be pursued in tandem with broad-based poverty reduction to improve overall well-being.

Economy

The economy appears small on a per-person basis but remains open, with GDP per capita at current US$1,235 in 2024 and a GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) of about US$4,224. Economic activity is complemented by a trade-intensive profile: exports of goods and services account for 40.8% of GDP (2023) and imports for 37.4% of GDP (2023), signaling a relatively open economy that relies on external markets for growth and access to inputs. Inflation is elevated at 15.0% in 2024, indicating macroeconomic volatility and price pressures that can erode household purchasing power and investment planning. The unemployment rate is reported at 5.86% in 2023, a figure that may reflect substantial informal employment rather than a formal labor-market indicator, and it coexists with high poverty and widespread informality in the economy.

The external sector shows a modest current-account deficit, with a balance of -2.11% of GDP in 2023, and foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows of 0.312% of GDP in 2023, pointing to limited external capital deepening yet some openness to international capital. External resilience is also shaped by a sizeable share of investment in tradable sectors and energy-intensive industries, though the data suggest that investment climate could benefit from stronger governance and market reforms to attract higher FDI and foster productivity growth. High-technology exports are small in absolute terms (about US$14.7 million in 2023), hinting at limited sophistication in the export mix, even as Zambia demonstrates capability in knowledge-based activities (e.g., patent activity by residents, 13 applications in 2021). Overall, the economy combines a modest income level with moderate openness, but it faces structural constraints from governance and development gaps that constrain investment, productivity, and inclusive growth.

Trade and Investment

Zambia’s trade footprint is notable for a relatively balanced import-export orientation: exports of goods and services make up about 40.8% of GDP (2023), while imports are 37.4% of GDP (2023), indicating a fairly integrated economy with a small current-account-weighted deficit. The net inflow of foreign direct investment remains modest, at 0.312% of GDP in 2023, suggesting that capital inflows for产业 upgrading, technology transfer, or productivity enhancements are limited and could be a policy priority. The country records a narrow high-tech exports sector, with high-technology exports totaling roughly US$14.7 million in 2023, implying room to diversify exports toward more knowledge-intensive products. Patent activity by residents—13 applications in 2021—hints at nascent domestic innovation activity, which, if scaled, could support export diversification and productivity gains. The combination of fiscal and macro indicators suggests that improving governance, reducing policy uncertainty, and strengthening institutions could help attract more investment and enable a higher-growth, more diversified export base over time.

Governance and Institutions

Zambia’s governance indicators depict a challenging institutional environment. Regulatory quality sits at -0.498, and the Rule of Law stands at -0.529, indicating weaker capacity to formulate and enforce sound regulations and legal frameworks. Control of Corruption is -0.478, and Government Effectiveness is -0.659, underscoring substantial room for improvement in public service delivery, policy implementation, and bureaucratic efficiency. Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism is 0.202 (2023), suggesting a moderate degree of political steadiness, though not robust by any measure. The Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines is 60.0% (2022), reflecting significant social vulnerabilities even as governance indicators improve over time. Taken together, these data point to systemic constraints that can hinder business confidence, private-sector development, and the delivery of essential services, while signaling that political arrangements may prevent rapid policy reversals but not yet unleash high-impact governance reforms. Policy priorities likely include strengthening rule of law, anticorruption measures, regulatory quality, and public-sector capacity to translate commitments into tangible outcomes for poverty reduction and inclusive growth.

Infrastructure and Technology

Zambia’s technology and infrastructure profile shows both constraints and potential. Individual internet usage stands at 33.0% of the population in 2023, highlighting a digital divide and room for expansion of connectivity, digital skills, and e-service delivery. The health and education sectors benefit from some digital penetration, but broader digital inclusion remains a policy imperative. Energy infrastructure benefits from a notable renewable-energy footprint: renewable energy consumption accounts for 83% of total final energy consumption in 2021, indicating a strong shift toward cleaner electricity generation and a potentially lower carbon-intensity growth path, albeit with reliance on hydro resources that may introduce climate vulnerability. The country’s health workforce is lean, with physicians at 0.262 per 1,000 people in 2022, which stresses the delivery of clinical care and may restrict the scale-up of new health services or emergency responsiveness. High-technology exports, while present, are not dominant (about US$14.7 million in 2023), and resident patent activity (13 applications in 2021) suggests a developing but under-leveraged innovation ecosystem. These indicators together imply that while Zambia has foundational renewable energy and some tech capability, substantial investments in digital infrastructure, human capital, and innovation ecosystems are needed to accelerate productivity and competitiveness.

Environment and Sustainability

On environmental sustainability, several indicators highlight a dual path of vulnerability and opportunity. The prevalence of undernourishment remains high at 35.4% (2022), pointing to significant food-security challenges that have broad implications for health, productivity, and resilience to climate shocks. The level of water stress, measured as freshwater withdrawal relative to available resources at 2.84 (2021), suggests elevated vulnerability to water resource fluctuations, with potential implications for agriculture, energy, and domestic water supply. Zambia’s per-capita greenhouse gas emissions exclude LULUCF at 1.47 t CO2e (2023); this modest level aligns with its lower-income status but leaves ample room for emissions growth if development accelerates. Yet the country is notable for its high share of renewable energy consumption (83% of final energy consumption in 2021), which helps limit emissions growth and supports a more sustainable energy trajectory. The combination of relatively low per-capita emissions and a strong renewable-energy share presents an opportunity to pursue climate-resilient development, though realized benefits depend on maintaining reliability in energy supply, safeguarding water resources, and continuing to expand sustainable agricultural and industrial practices. Zambia’s environmental profile thus reflects both persistent development challenges and a strategic advantage in leveraging renewables for a lower-carbon growth path.