Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Zambia
Zambia: Share of births attended by skilled health staff was 80.4% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Zambia, 1992–2019
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
In 2019, share of births attended by skilled health staff in Zambia stood at 80.4%. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 77.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births attended by skilled health staff in Zambia peaked at 80.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 42.1%, in 2002.
Zambia ranks 136th of 169 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 49.8% | — |
| 1996 | 46.0% | -7.6% |
| 1997 | 46.5% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 45.3% | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 42.1% | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 45.2% | +7.4% |
| 2014 | 63.3% | +40.0% |
| 2018 | 80.4% | +27.0% |
| 2019 | 80.4% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.9% | 45.3% | 49.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 43.7% | 42.1% | 45.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 74.7% | 63.3% | 80.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 133 Côte d'Ivoire 84.0% compare
- 134 Gambia 83.8% compare
- 135 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 81.1% compare
- 137 Burkina Faso 79.8% compare
- 138 Ghana 78.9% compare
- 139 Benin 78.1% compare
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 5.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0018 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 4.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0011 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of births attended by skilled health staff in Zambia?
- Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Zambia was 80.4% in 2019, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births attended by skilled health staff recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 80.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of births attended by skilled health staff recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.1% in 2002.
- How does Zambia rank for share of births attended by skilled health staff?
- Zambia ranks 136th out of 169 countries with data for 2019.
- Is share of births attended by skilled health staff rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of births attended by skilled health staff. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Skilled health staff refers to professionals trained to give the necessary supervision, care, and advice to women during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period; to conduct deliveries on their own; and to care for newborns.