Cholera case-fatality rate in Zambia
Zambia: Cholera case-fatality rate was 3.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Cholera case-fatality rate in Zambia, 1978–2024
Source: World Health Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 3.2% for cholera case-fatality rate in 2024.
The figure is up 8.6% on the previous year and up 213.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cholera case-fatality rate in Zambia peaked at 100.0% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1981.
That places Zambia 15th out of 118 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cholera case-fatality rate in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 13.7% | — |
| 1979 | 91.7% | +569.7% |
| 1980 | 29.8% | -67.5% |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1982 | 9.3% | — |
| 1983 | 8.2% | -12.7% |
| 1989 | 100.0% | +1126.3% |
| 1990 | 8.5% | -91.5% |
| 1991 | 8.3% | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 7.8% | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 6.3% | -19.6% |
| 1996 | 1.9% | -69.3% |
| 1997 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1998 | 0.0% | — |
| 1999 | 4.0% | — |
| 2000 | 6.7% | +69.9% |
| 2001 | 5.3% | -21.1% |
| 2002 | 3.5% | -33.3% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | -21.9% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | +11.1% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | -84.8% |
| 2006 | 3.4% | +633.1% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | -55.2% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | +23.6% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | -10.3% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | -46.2% |
| 2011 | 2.1% | +132.4% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | -52.4% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | +214.5% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | -42.9% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | +11.1% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | — |
| 2024 | 3.2% | +8.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.0%, 3.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.2%, 2.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cholera case-fatality rate in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +1126.3% | 8.2% | 100.0% |
| 2006 | +633.1% | 0.5% | 3.4% |
| 1979 | +569.7% | 13.7% | 91.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 52.7% | 13.7% | 91.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 29.5% | 0.0% | 100.0% | 5 |
| 1990s | 4.6% | 0.0% | 8.5% | 8 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 0.5% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8% | 0.9% | 3.2% | 6 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 0.0% | 3.2% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cholera case-fatality rate in Zambia?
- Cholera case-fatality rate in Zambia was 3.2% in 2024, according to World Health Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cholera case-fatality rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1989.
- What is the lowest cholera case-fatality rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1981.
- How does Zambia rank for cholera case-fatality rate?
- Zambia ranks 15th out of 118 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cholera case-fatality rate rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 213.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cholera case-fatality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of reported cholera cases that result in death. Testing and reporting is limited in many countries.