Poverty and living standards in Western Province, Zambia: official figures
78.6% of people in Western Province lived below the national poverty line in 2022, down from 82.2% in 2015; 2nd highest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 60.0%, up from 54.4%).
How many people in Western are extremely poor?
61.6% of people in Western Province were extremely poor in 2022, unable to afford even the basic food basket, down from 73.0% in 2015; 5th highest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 46.1%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency · saved copyHow common is domestic violence in Western?
33.7% of women in Western Province who had ever had a husband or partner had suffered emotional, physical or sexual violence from their current or most recent partner (2024), joint 5th highest of the 10 provinces (Zambia: 34.3%).
Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyMore figures
- Western Province was home to 9.2% of all Zambians living in poverty in 2022, against 7.0% of the population counted in the 2022 census. Source: Zambia Statistics Agency · saved copy
- 51.2% of people in Western Province belonged to the poorest fifth of Zambian households by assets and housing in 2024, the highest of the 10 provinces (by definition, 20% nationally). Source: Zambia Statistics Agency and Ministry of Health (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copy
How Western Province compares with other provinces
Population below the national poverty line (2022)
Western Province ranks 2 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population below the national poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muchinga Province | 82.6% |
| 2 | Western Province | 78.6% |
| 3 | Northern Province | 78.0% |
| 4 | Luapula Province | 77.3% |
| 5 | Eastern Province | 76.4% |
| 6 | Central Province | 67.5% |
| 7 | Southern Province | 63.5% |
Population in extreme poverty (2022)
Western Province ranks 5 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population in extreme poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Luapula Province | 69.8% |
| 3 | Northern Province | 65.3% |
| 4 | Eastern Province | 62.7% |
| 5 | Western Province | 61.6% |
| 6 | Central Province | 55.4% |
| 7 | Southern Province | 50.9% |
| 8 | North-Western Province | 50.6% |
More on Western Province: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · 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 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey Report (Tables 6.2, 10.2, 14.8; Figures 12.3, 12.6, 12.27), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e5a8bbf667e0…)
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