Health in Western Province, Zambia: official figures
A baby born in Western Province in 2026 is projected to live 65.1 years on average, 2nd shortest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 67.5), according to ZamStats projections from the 2022 census.
How many children die young in Western?
For every 1,000 babies born in Western Province in the ten years before the 2024 survey, 37 died before their first birthday and 45 before their fifth; the under-five rate is 5th highest 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 Western are vaccinated?
68.5% of children aged 12 to 23 months in Western Province had all basic vaccines (BCG, three doses of DPT-HepB-Hib and polio, and measles) in 2024 and 0.7% had none; 3rd 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 Western are malnourished?
27.6% of children under five in Western Province were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition) in 2024, 3rd 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 Western give birth in a health facility?
80.6% of babies born in Western Province in the two years before the 2024 survey were delivered in a health facility, the 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 Western?
10.4% of adults aged 15 to 49 in Western Province tested HIV positive in the 2024 survey (14.4% of women, 5.7% of men), 3rd 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 Western have health insurance?
Only 6.7% of women aged 15 to 49 in Western Province had any health insurance in 2024, mostly through the National Health Insurance Scheme; 5th highest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 9.3%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow Western Province compares with other provinces
Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births (10 years before the survey) (2014-2024)
Western Province ranks 5 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births (10 years before the survey) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Northern Province | 51 |
| 3 | Central Province | 47 |
| 4 | Copperbelt Province | 46 |
| 5 | Western Province | 45 |
| 6 | Eastern Province | 40 |
| 7 | Southern Province | 40 |
| 8 | Luapula Province | 37 |
Children under 5 stunted (2024)
Western Province ranks 8 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)
Western Province ranks 3 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)
Western Province ranks 3 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | HIV prevalence, adults 15-49 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lusaka Province | 12.1% |
| 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% |
More on Western 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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