Zambia Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Zambia's poverty rate was 70.76% in 2025, ranked 2nd globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Zambia's poverty rate stood at 70.76% in 2025, a decline of +0.94pp from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 70.76% by 2025. Zambia ranked 2nd globally.
Zambia’s poverty rate has risen sharply since the early 1990s, climbing from 63.00 % in 1991 to a World Bank‑recorded 70.76 % in 2025, the second‑highest level worldwide. The indicator peaked at 72.00 % in 2006 before slipping to an all‑time trough of 56.10 % in 1996, illustrating a volatile trajectory that has trended upward for most of the past three decades. The country’s performance lags behind regional peers such as Mozambique, where 77.92 % of the population lives in poverty, yet remains markedly higher than Kenya’s 45.31 % and Rwanda’s 39.89 %. The persistent rise reflects structural challenges in agriculture, limited industrial diversification, and fluctuating commodity prices that have constrained income growth. If policy reforms succeed in expanding social protection, improving rural productivity, and attracting foreign investment, the upward momentum could be halted and a gradual decline in poverty may emerge over the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 70.76% | - | - |
| 2025 | 70.76% | −0.94pp | #2 |
| 2022 | 71.70% | +3.80pp | #68 |
| 2015 | 67.90% | −3.50pp | #85 |
| 2010 | 71.40% | −0.60pp | #83 |
| 2006 | 72.00% | +3.10pp | #80 |
| 2004 | 68.90% | +0.90pp | #72 |
| 2002 | 68.00% | +11.40pp | #63 |
| 1998 | 56.60% | +0.50pp | #47 |
| 1996 | 56.10% | −11.00pp | #36 |
| 1993 | 67.10% | +4.10pp | #33 |
| 1991 | 63.00% | – | #19 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Zambia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Zambia's poverty rate was 70.76% in 2025. Ranked 2nd globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from the previous year.
Zambia's poverty rate peaked at 72.00% in 2006.
The lowest poverty rate in Zambia was 56.10% in 1996.
Zambia ranks 2nd globally in poverty rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
Zambia's poverty rate is projected to reach 70.76% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The poverty rate of Zambia in 2025 was 70.76%. This ranks 2nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_zambia_poverty-rate,
title = {Zambia Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/zambia/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}