Prevalence of syphilis in Zambia
Zambia: Prevalence of syphilis was 3.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Prevalence of syphilis in Zambia, 2010–2021
Source: World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of women attending antenatal care.
Analysis
In 2021, prevalence of syphilis in Zambia stood at 3.4%. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.
The figure is down 25.1% on the previous year and down 27.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of syphilis in Zambia peaked at 14.6% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2021.
That places Zambia 9th out of 91 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Prevalence of syphilis in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of women attending antenatal care | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 4.7% | — |
| 2012 | 14.6% | +212.8% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | -70.3% |
| 2014 | 4.6% | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | -21.4% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 5.8% | +66.2% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | -14.9% |
| 2020 | 4.5% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | -25.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.8%, 4.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.6%, 2.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5.8% | 3.5% | 14.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 3.4% | 4.5% | 2 |
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 syphilis in Zambia?
- Prevalence of syphilis in Zambia was 3.4% in 2021, according to World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of syphilis recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.6% in 2012.
- What is the lowest prevalence of syphilis recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2021.
- How does Zambia rank for prevalence of syphilis?
- Zambia ranks 9th out of 91 countries with data for 2021.
- Is prevalence of syphilis rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository, published as part of Prevalence of syphilis (% of women attending antenatal care). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of women attending antenatal care seropositive for syphilis