Distribution of Democracy Index in Zambia
Zambia: Distribution of Democracy Index was 16 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of Democracy Index in Zambia, 1964–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, distribution of democracy index in Zambia stood at 16.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of democracy index in Zambia peaked at 17 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1972.
Zambia ranks 87th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of Democracy Index in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 12 | — |
| 1965 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 10 | -16.7% |
| 1969 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1 | -90.0% |
| 1973 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 16 | +1500.0% |
| 1992 | 16 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 16 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 16 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 16 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 11 | -31.2% |
| 1997 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 15 | +36.4% |
| 2002 | 15 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 15 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 15 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 15 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 15 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 15 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 17 | +13.3% |
| 2009 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 16 | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 16 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 16 | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 16 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 16 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.5, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.33 | 10 | 12 | 6 |
| 1970s | 2.8 | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.5 | 1 | 16 | 10 |
| 2000s | 15 | 11 | 17 | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.67 | 16 | 17 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More social development data for Zambia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 83,225 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 346 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 346 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0038 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of democracy index in Zambia?
- Distribution of democracy index in Zambia was 16 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of democracy index recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 17 in 2008.
- What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1972.
- How does Zambia rank for distribution of democracy index?
- Zambia ranks 87th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is distribution of democracy index rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
It combines information on the extent to which open, multi-party, and competitive elections choose a chief executive who faces comprehensive institutional constraints, and political participation is competitive. It ranges from 0 to 20 (fully democratic).