GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in Zambia
Zambia: GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) was 1,235 current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1,235 current US$
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
183rd
of 211 countries
All-time high
1,821 current US$
in 2013
All-time low
238.23 current US$
in 1986
Years of data
55
1970–2024
GDP per capita in Zambia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2024, gdp per capita in Zambia stood at 1,235 current US$.
The figure is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Zambia peaked at 1,821 current US$ in 2013 and was at its lowest, 238.23 current US$, in 1986.
Zambia ranks 183rd of 211 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP per capita (current US$) (UNESCO Institute) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 413.9 current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 372.14 current US$ | -10.1% |
| 1972 | 409.78 current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1973 | 517.63 current US$ | +26.3% |
| 1974 | 601.1 current US$ | +16.1% |
| 1975 | 489.5 current US$ | -18.6% |
| 1976 | 533.23 current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1977 | 474.36 current US$ | -11.0% |
| 1978 | 514.34 current US$ | +8.4% |
| 1979 | 595.46 current US$ | +15.8% |
| 1980 | 669.42 current US$ | +12.4% |
| 1981 | 669.89 current US$ | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 626.53 current US$ | -6.5% |
| 1983 | 520.46 current US$ | -16.9% |
| 1984 | 413.27 current US$ | -20.6% |
| 1985 | 332.17 current US$ | -19.6% |
| 1986 | 238.23 current US$ | -28.3% |
| 1987 | 315 current US$ | +32.2% |
| 1988 | 504.49 current US$ | +60.2% |
| 1989 | 526.36 current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 422.34 current US$ | -19.8% |
| 1991 | 423.07 current US$ | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 389.25 current US$ | -8.0% |
| 1993 | 390.92 current US$ | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 426.39 current US$ | +9.1% |
| 1995 | 433.31 current US$ | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 399.51 current US$ | -7.8% |
| 1997 | 465.87 current US$ | +16.6% |
| 1998 | 373.08 current US$ | -19.9% |
| 1999 | 349.52 current US$ | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 359.43 current US$ | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 396.55 current US$ | +10.3% |
| 2002 | 393.87 current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 446.29 current US$ | +13.3% |
| 2004 | 548.69 current US$ | +22.9% |
| 2005 | 710.98 current US$ | +29.6% |
| 2006 | 1,052 current US$ | +47.9% |
| 2007 | 1,119 current US$ | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 1,376 current US$ | +23.0% |
| 2009 | 1,136 current US$ | -17.4% |
| 2010 | 1,451 current US$ | +27.7% |
| 2011 | 1,625 current US$ | +12.0% |
| 2012 | 1,710 current US$ | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 1,821 current US$ | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 1,707 current US$ | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 1,296 current US$ | -24.1% |
| 2016 | 1,239 current US$ | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 1,483 current US$ | +19.7% |
| 2018 | 1,464 current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 1,259 current US$ | -14.0% |
| 2020 | 951.64 current US$ | -24.4% |
| 2021 | 1,127 current US$ | +18.4% |
| 2022 | 1,447 current US$ | +28.4% |
| 2023 | 1,331 current US$ | -8.0% |
| 2024 | 1,235 current US$ | -7.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1,235 current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2,419 current US$, 51% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1,235 current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,136 current US$, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 492.15 current US$ | 372.14 current US$ | 601.1 current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 481.58 current US$ | 238.23 current US$ | 669.89 current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 407.33 current US$ | 349.52 current US$ | 465.87 current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 753.8 current US$ | 359.43 current US$ | 1,376 current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,506 current US$ | 1,239 current US$ | 1,821 current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,218 current US$ | 951.64 current US$ | 1,447 current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 180 Myanmar 1,359 current US$ compare
- 181 East Timor 1,343 current US$ compare
- 182 Tajikistan 1,341 current US$ compare
- 184 Tanzania 1,186 current US$ compare
- 185 Mali 1,086 current US$ compare
- 186 South Sudan 1,080 current US$ compare
More population data for Zambia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2495 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5112 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,460 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.52 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2967 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.516 (2100)
- Population density 86.73 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 4.60 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in Zambia?
- Gdp per capita in Zambia was 1,235 current US$ in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp per capita recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,821 current US$ in 2013.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 238.23 current US$ in 1986.
- How does Zambia rank for gdp per capita?
- Zambia ranks 183rd out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP per capita (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release