Health in Southern Province, Zambia: official figures
A baby born in Southern Province in 2026 is projected to live 68.8 years on average, 2nd longest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 67.5), according to ZamStats projections from the 2022 census.
How many children die young in Southern?
For every 1,000 babies born in Southern Province in the ten years before the 2024 survey, 32 died before their first birthday and 40 before their fifth; the under-five rate is joint 4th lowest of the 10 provinces (Zambia, last five years: 29 and 42).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many children in Southern are vaccinated?
69.4% of children aged 12 to 23 months in Southern Province had all basic vaccines (BCG, three doses of DPT-HepB-Hib and polio, and measles) in 2024 and 0.0% had none; 2nd highest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 65.0% and 0.4%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many children in Southern are malnourished?
27.2% of children under five in Southern Province were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition) in 2024, 2nd lowest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 32.1%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyDo women in Southern give birth in a health facility?
91.4% of babies born in Southern Province in the two years before the 2024 survey were delivered in a health facility, 4th lowest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 93.0%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow common is HIV in Southern?
8.6% of adults aged 15 to 49 in Southern Province tested HIV positive in the 2024 survey (11.1% of women, 5.8% of men), 5th highest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 8.7%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many people in Southern have health insurance?
Only 6.2% of women aged 15 to 49 in Southern Province had any health insurance in 2024, mostly through the National Health Insurance Scheme; 5th lowest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 9.3%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow Southern Province compares with other provinces
Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births (10 years before the survey) (2014-2024)
Southern Province ranks 7 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births (10 years before the survey) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Copperbelt Province | 46 |
| 5 | Western Province | 45 |
| 6 | Eastern Province | 40 |
| 7 | Southern Province | 40 |
| 8 | Luapula Province | 37 |
| 9 | Muchinga Province | 30 |
| 10 | North-Western Province | 28 |
Children under 5 stunted (2024)
Southern Province ranks 9 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children under 5 stunted |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Eastern Province | 36.3% |
| 5 | North-Western Province | 35.3% |
| 6 | Copperbelt Province | 30.5% |
| 7 | Central Province | 28.2% |
| 8 | Western Province | 27.6% |
| 9 | Southern Province | 27.2% |
| 10 | Lusaka Province | 20.1% |
Children 12-23 months with all basic vaccines (2024)
Southern Province ranks 2 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children 12-23 months with all basic vaccines |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copperbelt Province | 70.8% |
| 2 | Southern Province | 69.4% |
| 3 | Western Province | 68.5% |
| 4 | Central Province | 66.1% |
| 5 | Lusaka Province | 66.1% |
| 6 | Muchinga Province | 65.1% |
| 7 | Eastern Province | 62.3% |
HIV prevalence, adults 15-49 (2024)
Southern Province ranks 5 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | HIV prevalence, adults 15-49 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Copperbelt Province | 11.6% |
| 3 | Western Province | 10.4% |
| 4 | Central Province | 10.3% |
| 5 | Southern Province | 8.6% |
| 6 | Luapula Province | 6.6% |
| 7 | North-Western Province | 6.2% |
| 8 | Eastern Province | 5.0% |
More on Southern Province: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Zambia
Sources
- Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program): Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2024, Final Report (province rows of Tables 2.6, 2.12, 3.3, 3.9.1, 5.2, 8.1, 8.3, 9.8, 10.4, 11.1, 14.4.1, 16.11, 17.2, 17.7), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 12e99ddc4a98…)
- Zambia Statistics Agency: 2022 Census of Population and Housing: National, Provincial and District Population Projections 2023-2047 (Tables A4, A5, A6; medium variant), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 76c7c9904915…)
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