The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index in Zambia
Zambia: The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index was 62 in 2023. ▲ Rising
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in Zambia stood at 62. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 12.7% on the previous year and up 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in Zambia peaked at 62 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 31, in 2002.
Zambia ranks 137th of 195 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 32 | — |
| 2001 | 33 | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 31 | -6.1% |
| 2003 | 32 | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 34 | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 37 | +8.8% |
| 2006 | 42 | +13.5% |
| 2007 | 45 | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 45 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 44 | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 47 | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 49 | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 51 | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 52 | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 55 | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 55 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 51 | -7.3% |
| 2017 | 55 | +7.8% |
| 2018 | 54 | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 55 | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 56 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 56 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 55 | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 62 | +12.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 62 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 56, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 62 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 48, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37.5 | 31 | 45 | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.4 | 47 | 55 | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.25 | 55 | 62 | 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)
- 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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in Zambia?
- The universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index in Zambia was 62 in 2023, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 62 in 2023.
- What is the lowest the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 31 in 2002.
- How does Zambia rank for the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index?
- Zambia ranks 137th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is the universal health coverage (uhc) service coverage index rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index is measured on a scale from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) based on the average coverage of essential services including reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and service capacity and access.