Zambia: official statistics and sources
15 official bodies for Zambia, from Zambia Statistics Agency to Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), with key figures from the World Bank and IMF. Official language: English. Capital: Lusaka.
Who holds power in Zambia
- Head of state: Hakainde Hichilema (President of the Republic of Zambia)
- Head of government: The head of state leads the government (no prime minister listed)
- Foreign minister: Mulambo Hamakuni Haimbe (Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Zambia)
Source: UN Protocol and Liaison Service list, dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.
Unitary presidential republic. How local power works in Zambia: 3 tiers of government below the nation, who is elected and who they answer to.
Part of level 6 of the 10 levels of power.
Government, regions and cities
- Government and power in Zambia: leaders, governance scores, women in parliament, spending and the bodies that hold power to account
- All 10 provinces: Lusaka Province, Copperbelt Province, Eastern Province, Southern Province, Central Province…
- The 10 largest cities: Lusaka, Kitwe, Chipata, Ndola
Key figures
What the figures show
Zambia had 21.9 million people in 2025, by the World Bank's count; ten years earlier the figure was 16.4 million. It ranks 19th of 48 in the World Bank's Sub-Saharan Africa region and 61st of 193 worldwide.
In 2025 Zambia recorded gross domestic product of $28.9 billion, converted to US dollars by the World Bank. Divided by population it comes to $1,318, where the middle country in the region has $1,351.
Output rose 3.8% after inflation in 2025 (World Bank). The IMF's October 2026 outlook projects 5.6% for 2026.
For 2025 as a whole the World Bank records 13.9%. IMF projections put 2026 at 8.0%.
Unemployment stood at 5.9% in 2025 on the ILO's modelled estimate, which can differ from the national survey.
Government debt was 100.6% of GDP in 2025, the IMF estimates, heading to 82.1% in 2026. The regional median is 53.1%.
A baby born in 2024 could expect to live 66.5 years.
- Annual inflation since 2015: highest 22.0% (2021), lowest 6.6% (2017).
- Debt ratio 2015: 61.9%; 2025: 100.6%.
- GDP per person in dollars, 2015 to 2025: +2%.
Figures checked 2026-10-13; how they are compiled.
Official sources in Zambia
Statistics office prices, jobs, people, output
- Zambia Statistics Agency
Zambia's consumer price index, census, labour force and living conditions survey results.
Central bank interest rates and money
- Bank of Zambia
Policy rate decisions, exchange rates, monetary policy statements and financial stability reports.
Parliament debates, votes, bills
- National Assembly of Zambia
Hansard, bills, Acts and committee reports.
Government
- Cabinet Office
Cabinet decisions, government circulars and public service information.
Courts judgments
- Judiciary of Zambia
Judgments of the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court and High Court, and cause lists.
Public audit how public money was spent
- Office of the Auditor General
The Auditor General's reports on government accounts, parastatals and local authorities.
Elections results and rules
- Electoral Commission of Zambia
Election results, voter registers and electoral timetables.
Regulators
- Securities and Exchange Commission
Capital market rules, licensed entities and enforcement notices.
- Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
Merger decisions, competition cases and consumer protection rulings.
- Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA)
ICT licences, regulations and sector statistics.
- Energy Regulation Board
Fuel pump prices, electricity tariff decisions and energy licences.
Access to information requests to public bodies
- Human Rights Commission (oversight of the Access to Information Act)
Human rights reports and investigations, and access-to-information guidelines, regulations and request forms.
Public registers companies, land, charities
- Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA)
Company and business name registration, filings, searches and intellectual property registration.
- ZamPortal government e-services (Ministry of Lands services)
Government online services, including Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources land applications and payments.
Public contracts government tenders and awards
- Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA)
Procurement regulations, tender notices, contract awards, the supplier register and debarment lists.
Freedom of information in Zambia
| Law | Access to Information Act, 2023 (Act No. 24 of 2023) (2023) |
|---|---|
| Answered by | An information officer appointed by each information holder (the head of the information holder if none is appointed). |
| Time limit | 7 days (extendable by up to 14 days) |
| Appeals to | Human Rights Commission |
The Human Rights Commission publishes the ATI General Regulations and a request form (Form I).
What Zambia does not have
- No state-run case-law database was found; ZambiaLII is hosted by an independent research centre, so it is not listed.
- The data-protection commissioner site could not be reached today (TLS error).
Also: World Bank country data · IMF country page · UN Sustainable Development Goals country profile · IPU Parline parliament profile.
Zambia by subject
- Economy GDP, growth, trade and investment
- Jobs and pay unemployment, jobs and work
- Cost of living inflation, poverty and inequality
- Public finances debt, deficit, tax and spending
- Health and care life expectancy, doctors and spending
- Housing homes, cities, water and power
- Crime and justice murder rate, courts and crime
- Immigration migrants, refugees and remittances
- Education schools, universities and literacy
- Environment emissions, air, forests and water
Power in Zambia, from local government up to the G20
The global bodies above national governments, and the levels of power inside Zambia. How the ten levels work.
Level 3: Local councils
- Cities of Zambia the largest cities, with their figures
- Local government in Zambia how councils, regions and municipalities work
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
- Regions of Zambia 10 regions, states or provinces
Level 6: National government
- Zambia: national government this page
- Government and power in Zambia who leads, the parliament and the courts
- World leaders every country's head of state and government
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Common questions
What is the population of Zambia?
21.9 million (2025, World Bank). National figures: Zambia Statistics Agency.
What is the inflation rate in Zambia?
13.9% (2025, World Bank). Official index: Zambia Statistics Agency.
What is Zambia's GDP?
$28.9 billion (2025, World Bank).
How much government debt does Zambia have?
100.6% of GDP (2025, International Monetary Fund).
Who publishes official statistics in Zambia?
Zambia Statistics Agency: https://www.zamstats.gov.zm/
Is there a freedom of information law in Zambia?
Access to Information Act, 2023 (Act No. 24 of 2023) (2023). Time limit: 7 days (extendable by up to 14 days). Appeals: Human Rights Commission.
What is the central bank of Zambia?
Bank of Zambia: https://www.boz.zm/
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