Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Zambia
Zambia: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 804,041 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
The most recent figure for distribution of population between different poverty lines in Zambia is 804,041 people, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Zambia peaked at 967,070 people in 2015 and was at its lowest, 325,996 people, in 2002.
That places Zambia 107th out of 120 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 | 579,696 people | — |
| 1993 | 428,326 people | -26.1% |
| 1996 | 623,603 people | +45.6% |
| 1998 | 635,861 people | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 325,996 people | -48.7% |
| 2004 | 596,078 people | +82.8% |
| 2006 | 599,186 people | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 674,864 people | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 967,070 people | +43.3% |
| 2022 | 804,041 people | -16.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 804,041 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.74 million people, 21% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 804,041 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.29 million people, 62% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 566,872 people | 428,326 people | 635,861 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 507,087 people | 325,996 people | 599,186 people | 3 |
| 2010s | 820,967 people | 674,864 people | 967,070 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 804,041 people | 804,041 people | 804,041 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 104 Rwanda 1.03 million people compare
- 105 Mozambique 936,910 people compare
- 106 Mauritania 889,247 people compare
- 108 Togo 789,699 people compare
- 109 Botswana 682,822 people compare
- 110 Madagascar 664,827 people compare
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 804,041 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 967,070 people in 2015.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 325,996 people in 2002.
- How does Zambia rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Zambia ranks 107th 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 19.1%. 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 $10 per day.