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Country profile · compared with SADC

Zambia

SADCCOMESACurrency ZMW

Zambia is home to 21.9m people (2025) and has an economy of $28.9bn (2025), the 6th largest in SADC. Output per person of $1,318 is below the regional median of $2,539. The economy grew 3.8% in 2025, and the IMF expects 5.6% in 2026. Inflation was 13.9% in 2025, above the regional median of 3.6%. 53.6% of people have electricity (2024).

Where Zambia stands out

  • Mobile money accountIn much of the region mobile money, not banks, is how people pay, save and receive money.Highest of 14 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Highest of 14 in SADC
  • Electricity generationThe size of the power system and the market for generation, transmission and energy services.3rd highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    3rd highest of 16 in SADC
  • Lending interest rateThe cost of local debt financing and a guide to the hurdle rate local projects must clear.4th lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    4th lowest of 16 in SADC

What to watch

  • General government gross debtHigh public debt raises the risk of tax rises, spending cuts, arrears to suppliers and, in the worst case, default and capital controls.Highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Highest of 16 in SADC
  • Internet usersThe addressable market for e-commerce, digital payments, online services and digital advertising.Lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Lowest of 16 in SADC
  • Stock market turnover ratioLiquidity: how easily a position can be bought or sold without moving the price.Lowest of 9 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Lowest of 9 in SADC

Zambia scores best on growth and weakest on stability

Scores from 0 to 100 by rank within SADC, against the SADC median. 100 means best in the region on that pillar.

ZambiaSADC median
Market sizeGrowthStabilityInfrastructureDigital,financeGovernanceUnmetdemand51721950576059
Source: Investor Lens method·dotzedw Insights Centre

The IMF expects Zambia to grow 5.6% in 2026

Real GDP growth, per cent a year. Open bars are IMF forecasts.

ActualIMF forecast
0.0%1.0%2.0%3.0%4.0%5.0%6.0%3.8%20255.6%20264.9%20275.0%2028

Ten years of history are free with a Reader account.

Source: IMF·dotzedw Insights Centre

Farming employs 55% of workers but produces 4% of output

Share of jobs in each broad sector against its share of GDP, latest year. A sector with far more jobs than output has low productivity and room to grow.

Share of jobsShare of GDP
0%20%40%60%Agriculture55%4%50 pts apartIndustry10%35%25 pts apartServices35%57%22 pts apart
Source: World Bank, ILO·dotzedw Insights Centre

Key figures

The bar under each figure places it among the 16 countries of SADC, lowest on the left. Hover for context; select for the data card.

Zambia on the map

Its 10 provinces and 116 districts, shaded by population, power, water, transport and more; circles sized by value; or power lines, roads and masts on a street map.

Open the full map
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How Zambia generates electricity

Share of electricity generation by source, latest year.

CoalGasOilWindNuclearBioenergy and otherHydroSolar

No electricity data for Zambia.

The history of the power mix is part of the Individual plan

US$19 a month or US$190 a year. Subscribe on dotzedw.com and you come straight back to this page with Individual access. Already a member? Sign in with your dotzedw.com account.

Source: Ember, Energy Institute· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Politics, parliament and elections

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The President is directly elected and is head of state and government. Power has changed hands through elections in 1991, 2011 and 2021. Hakainde Hichilema won a second term in August 2026 with 60% of the vote; a 2025 constitutional amendment enlarged the National Assembly to 280 seats, adding 40 proportional seats for women, youth and people with disabilities.

President
Hakainde Hichilema (UPND), since 24 Aug 2021
How the executive is chosen
Directly elected; a candidate needs more than half of the valid votes, otherwise a run-off is held
Term and limits
Five years; a president may be elected at most twice
Governing
UPND
In power since
UPND, 2021 (5 years)
The MMD governed from 1991 to 2011 and the Patriotic Front from 2011 to 2021.
Next national election
August 2031 (general)
Hichilema is serving his second and last term.

UPND holds 183 of 280 seats

National Assembly, seats as of September 2026. Parallel; 5-year term

280seatsMajority 141 · Two thirds 187 (dashed lines)
  • UPND169
  • NOM14
  • Other members2
  • NRPUP67
  • IND20
  • RP5
  • Other opposition parties3
How seats are filled
226 members are elected in single-member constituencies by first past the post and 40 by party-list proportional representation (20 women, 15 youth and 5 people with disabilities). Eleven members nominated by the President, plus the Vice-President, the Speaker and the First Deputy Speaker ex officio.
Powers
Passes laws and the budget; amendments to the Bill of Rights also need a referendum.
Special majority
Two thirds of members are needed to amend the Constitution. The governing side does not have it.
Elections
Last 13 Aug 2026; next August 2031
Source: National Assembly of Zambia (Wikipedia)·dotzedw Insights Centre

What the record shows

  • Power has changed hands through the ballot box in 1991, 2011 and 2021; UPND has governed since 2021.
  • The largest party changed from PF in 2011 to UPND in 2021, with 46.2% of the vote.
  • The last presidential election, in 2026, was a comfortable win: the winner took 60.5%, 23 points ahead of the runner-up.
  • The governing side holds 183 of 280 seats in the National Assembly; it would need 187 to change the Constitution without opposition votes.
  • Turnout was 57% in 2026, up from 44% in 1991.
  • V-Dem's clean elections score is 46 out of 100, little changed from 47 in 2015.

The largest party won 46% of the parliamentary vote in 2021, against 74% in 1991

Every lower-house election since 1990: the largest party's share of the vote and of the seats, and turnout of registered voters. Open circles mark a change of government.

Largest party: votesLargest party: seatsTurnout
0%20%40%60%80%100%1995200020052010201520202025HalfTwo thirds64.0%Largest party: seats56.5%Turnout46.2%Largest party: votes
Source: Official results, V-Dem·dotzedw Insights Centre

The winner's lead over the runner-up was 23 points in 2026

First-round share of the valid vote for the winner and the runner-up in each presidential election since 1990.

WinnerRunner-up
0%20%40%60%80%100%1995200020052010201520202025Half60.5%Winner37.9%Runner-up
Source: Official results, V-Dem·dotzedw Insights Centre

Every national election

DateElectionResultTurnoutNotes
13 Aug 2026National AssemblyUPND 169 seats; NRPUP 67 seatsn/a
13 Aug 2026PresidentialPresidential, 2026Hakainde Hichilema (UPND)60.5%Brian Mundubile (NRPUP)37.9%Harry Kalaba (CF)0.4%Hakainde Hichilema (UPND) 60.5%; Brian Mundubile (NRPUP) 37.9%57.2%Disputed
12 Aug 2021National AssemblyNational Assembly, 2021UPND46.2%, 82 seatsPF35.7%, 60 seatsPNUP0.3%, 1 seatsUPND 46.2%, 82 seats; PF 35.7%, 60 seatsn/aChange of power
12 Aug 2021PresidentialPresidential, 2021Hakainde Hichilema (UPND)59.0%Edgar Lungu (PF)38.7%OTH2.3%Hakainde Hichilema (UPND) 59.0%; Edgar Lungu (PF) 38.7%70.6%Change of power
11 Aug 2016ParliamentParliament, 2016PF41.0%, 80 seatsUPND40.6%, 58 seatsindependent9.3%, 14 seatsPF 41.0%, 80 seats; UPND 40.6%, 58 seats56.5% V-Dem
2016PresidentialPresidential, 2016Edgar Changwa Lungu50.4%Runner-up47.6%Edgar Changwa Lungu 50.4%; Runner-up 47.6%56.5% V-Dem

Checked 30 Sept 2026. Not yet recorded: Party vote totals for the 2026 parliamentary ballot are not recorded.

Election calendar

All elections

Hover a vote for its result and what it means.

  • 2031
    General election
    Zambia: General electionNo analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: Wikipedia
    Expected
  • 13 Aug 2026
    General electionWon by Hakainde Hichilema
    Zambia: General electionResult: Hakainde Hichilema (UPND) re-elected with 61.4% of the presidential vote; Brian Mundubile 38%.Continuity for the IMF-backed debt restructuring and the mining investment drive. EU observers called the vote largely peaceful but held in an environment that limited freedoms, and opposition arrests on election night raise political risk into the second term.Sources: Al Jazeera, Lusaka Times
    Held

Deals and projects

Every deal in Zambia

Individual Every deal record with its parties, value, stage and sources.

dotzedw analysis on Zambia

All analysis

Sources and method