Difference in male and female life expectancy in Zambia
Zambia: Difference in male and female life expectancy was 4.03 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
4.03
Change on year
down 7.1%
World rank
165th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.75
in 2020
All-time low
0.1381
in 2005
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Difference in male and female life expectancy in Zambia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, difference in male and female life expectancy in Zambia stood at 4.03.
The figure is down 7.1% on the previous year and up 36.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in male and female life expectancy in Zambia peaked at 4.75 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1381, in 2005.
Zambia ranks 165th of 236 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.
Difference in male and female life expectancy in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.6 | — |
| 1951 | 1.55 | -3.1% |
| 1952 | 1.57 | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 1.59 | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 1.57 | -1.1% |
| 1955 | 1.6 | +1.6% |
| 1956 | 1.61 | +0.5% |
| 1957 | 1.56 | -2.8% |
| 1958 | 1.63 | +4.4% |
| 1959 | 1.71 | +4.7% |
| 1960 | 1.74 | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 1.69 | -3.0% |
| 1962 | 1.71 | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 1.66 | -3.1% |
| 1964 | 2.39 | +44.0% |
| 1965 | 1.78 | -25.5% |
| 1966 | 1.76 | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 1.79 | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 1.77 | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 1.83 | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 1.79 | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 1.84 | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 1.89 | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 1.8 | -4.7% |
| 1974 | 1.9 | +5.5% |
| 1975 | 1.98 | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 2.18 | +10.3% |
| 1977 | 2.4 | +10.2% |
| 1978 | 2.48 | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 2.91 | +17.3% |
| 1980 | 2.99 | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 3.09 | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 3.25 | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 3.06 | -5.7% |
| 1984 | 3.11 | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 3.06 | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 2.85 | -6.8% |
| 1987 | 2.6 | -8.8% |
| 1988 | 2.28 | -12.4% |
| 1989 | 2.11 | -7.5% |
| 1990 | 1.8 | -14.5% |
| 1991 | 1.7 | -5.9% |
| 1992 | 1.61 | -5.4% |
| 1993 | 1.66 | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 1.41 | -15.1% |
| 1995 | 1.38 | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 1.14 | -17.6% |
| 1997 | 1.09 | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 0.7813 | -28.1% |
| 1999 | 0.5468 | -30.0% |
| 2000 | 0.4564 | -16.5% |
| 2001 | 0.4221 | -7.5% |
| 2002 | 0.4768 | +13.0% |
| 2003 | 0.8039 | +68.6% |
| 2004 | 0.2179 | -72.9% |
| 2005 | 0.1381 | -36.6% |
| 2006 | 0.5963 | +331.8% |
| 2007 | 0.8068 | +35.3% |
| 2008 | 1.46 | +80.4% |
| 2009 | 1.52 | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 2.05 | +35.1% |
| 2011 | 2.6 | +27.0% |
| 2012 | 2.81 | +7.9% |
| 2013 | 2.97 | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 3.4 | +14.6% |
| 2015 | 3.76 | +10.7% |
| 2016 | 3.82 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 4.17 | +9.2% |
| 2018 | 4.33 | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 4.61 | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 4.75 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 4.69 | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 4.34 | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 4.03 | -7.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 4.03 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.19, 96% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 4.03 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.08, 99% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Difference in male and female life expectancy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +331.8% | 0.1381 | 0.5963 |
| 2008 | +80.4% | 0.8068 | 1.46 |
| 2004 | -72.9% | 0.8039 | 0.2179 |
| 2003 | +68.6% | 0.4768 | 0.8039 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.6 | 1.55 | 1.71 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.81 | 1.66 | 2.39 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.12 | 1.79 | 2.91 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.84 | 2.11 | 3.25 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.31 | 0.5468 | 1.8 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6891 | 0.1381 | 1.52 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.45 | 2.05 | 4.61 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.45 | 4.03 | 4.75 | 4 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,894 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is difference in male and female life expectancy in Zambia?
- Difference in male and female life expectancy in Zambia was 4.03 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.75 in 2020.
- What is the lowest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1381 in 2005.
- How does Zambia rank for difference in male and female life expectancy?
- Zambia ranks 165th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in male and female life expectancy rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Difference in male and female life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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