Number reported cases of cholera in Zambia
Zambia: Number reported cases of cholera was 23,380 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number reported cases of cholera in Zambia, 1978–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, number reported cases of cholera in Zambia stood at 23,380. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 416.0% on the previous year and up 11,708.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number reported cases of cholera in Zambia peaked at 23,380 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 12, in 1979.
Zambia ranks 8th of 119 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number reported cases of cholera in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 263 | — |
| 1979 | 12 | -95.4% |
| 1980 | 57 | +375.0% |
| 1981 | 14 | -75.4% |
| 1982 | 1,403 | +9921.4% |
| 1983 | 233 | -83.4% |
| 1989 | 44 | -81.1% |
| 1990 | 3,717 | +8347.7% |
| 1991 | 13,154 | +253.9% |
| 1992 | 11,659 | -11.4% |
| 1993 | 6,766 | -42.0% |
| 1996 | 2,172 | -67.9% |
| 1997 | 36 | -98.3% |
| 1998 | 171 | +375.0% |
| 1999 | 13,511 | +7801.2% |
| 2000 | 4,504 | -66.7% |
| 2001 | 3,109 | -31.0% |
| 2002 | 339 | -89.1% |
| 2003 | 1,049 | +209.4% |
| 2004 | 12,149 | +1058.2% |
| 2005 | 1,503 | -87.6% |
| 2006 | 5,360 | +256.6% |
| 2007 | 2,286 | -57.4% |
| 2008 | 2,061 | -9.8% |
| 2009 | 4,712 | +128.6% |
| 2010 | 6,794 | +44.2% |
| 2011 | 330 | -95.1% |
| 2012 | 198 | -40.0% |
| 2017 | 1,794 | +806.1% |
| 2018 | 4,082 | +127.5% |
| 2019 | 447 | -89.0% |
| 2022 | 34 | -92.4% |
| 2023 | 4,531 | +13226.5% |
| 2024 | 23,380 | +416.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 23,380 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 198, 118.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 23,380 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 207, 112.9× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number reported cases of cholera 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +13226.5% | 34 | 4,531 |
| 1982 | +9921.4% | 14 | 1,403 |
| 1990 | +8347.7% | 44 | 3,717 |
| 1999 | +7801.2% | 171 | 13,511 |
| 2004 | +1058.2% | 1,049 | 12,149 |
| 2017 | +806.1% | 198 | 1,794 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 137.5 | 12 | 263 | 2 |
| 1980s | 350.2 | 14 | 1,403 | 5 |
| 1990s | 6,398 | 36 | 13,511 | 8 |
| 2000s | 3,707 | 339 | 12,149 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,274 | 198 | 6,794 | 6 |
| 2020s | 9,315 | 34 | 23,380 | 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)
- 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 number reported cases of cholera in Zambia?
- Number reported cases of cholera in Zambia was 23,380 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number reported cases of cholera recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 23,380 in 2024.
- What is the lowest number reported cases of cholera recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12 in 1979.
- How does Zambia rank for number reported cases of cholera?
- Zambia ranks 8th out of 119 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number reported cases of cholera rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11,708.1%. 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 Number reported cases of cholera. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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