Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Zambia
Zambia: Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was 36.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Zambia is 36.7%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Zambia peaked at 45.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 36.2%, in 2020.
That places Zambia 47th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 45.3% | — |
| 2001 | 44.5% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 43.8% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 43.0% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 42.3% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 41.5% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 40.7% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 40.0% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 39.3% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 38.6% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 38.1% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 37.6% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 37.2% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 37.0% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 36.8% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 36.7% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 36.6% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 36.4% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 36.3% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 36.3% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 36.2% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 36.2% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 36.7% | +0.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 36.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.0%, 99% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 36.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.9% | 38.6% | 45.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.9% | 36.3% | 38.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.4% | 36.2% | 36.7% | 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)
- 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 prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Zambia?
- Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in Zambia was 36.7% in 2023, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of anemia among pregnant women recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 45.3% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of anemia among pregnant women recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2% in 2020.
- How does Zambia rank for prevalence of anemia among pregnant women?
- Zambia ranks 47th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is prevalence of anemia among pregnant women rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository/World Health Statistics, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of anemia, pregnant women, is the percentage of pregnant women whose hemoglobin level is less than 110 grams per liter at sea level.