Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Zambia
Zambia: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 19,856 people in 2022. ▲ Rising
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Zambia, 1991–2022
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 19,856 people for distribution of population between different poverty lines in 2022.
That represents a change of up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Zambia peaked at 49,284 people in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,424 people, in 1993.
Zambia ranks 104th of 120 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 20,396 people | — |
| 1993 | 1,424 people | -93.0% |
| 1996 | 25,783 people | +1710.6% |
| 1998 | 35,952 people | +39.4% |
| 2002 | 16,861 people | -53.1% |
| 2004 | 31,194 people | +85.0% |
| 2006 | 26,450 people | -15.2% |
| 2010 | 19,195 people | -27.4% |
| 2015 | 49,284 people | +156.8% |
| 2022 | 19,856 people | -59.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 19,856 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 109,270 people, 18% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 19,856 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19,498 people, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20,889 people | 1,424 people | 35,952 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 24,835 people | 16,861 people | 31,194 people | 3 |
| 2010s | 34,240 people | 19,195 people | 49,284 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 19,856 people | 19,856 people | 19,856 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More poverty & inequality data for Zambia
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 4.1 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,344 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -4.62 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 16.23 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 16.2% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Zambia?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Zambia was 19,856 people in 2022, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 49,284 people in 2015.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,424 people in 1993.
- How does Zambia rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Zambia ranks 104th out of 120 countries with data for 2022.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $40 per day.