DeathDate

Life Expectancy in Zambia

A baby born in Zambia in 2024 can expect to live 66.5 years on average — 7.0 years less than the world average of 73.5.

Overall66.5years
Men64.1world: 71.1
Women68.9world: 76.0
World rank#182of 217
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Life expectancy in Zambia since 1960

40506070801960197019801990200020102020
  • Women
  • Men

Since 1960, life expectancy in Zambia has risen by 15.9 years, from 50.6 to 66.5. During the COVID-19 pandemic it fell by 0.5 years (from 62.9 in 2019 to 62.4 in 2021) and has since recovered. Women live 4.8 years longer than men (68.9 vs 64.1).

Expected age at death in Zambia by age

Life expectancy at birth includes deaths in childhood. Once people reach adulthood they can expect to live longer — here is the average expected age at death for people who have already reached each age:

Current ageBirth20406080
Men64.167.969.072.883.2
Women68.972.973.876.684.9

Birth: World Bank. Other ages: our survival model calibrated to Zambia’s figures (method).

How people die in Zambia

  • Chronic diseases: 29.7%
  • Infections, maternal & nutritional: 63.6%
  • Injuries: 6.8%

In 2019, 30% of deaths in Zambia were caused by chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes (world: 74%). A Zambia man has a 26% chance and a woman 22% of dying of one of these diseases between the ages of 30 and 70 (world: 21% and 16%). Road traffic accidents kill 20.5 people per 100,000 each year (world: 16.7).

See which causes of death are most likely for you →

Child mortality

Out of every 1,000 babies born in Zambia, about 48.4 die before their fifth birthday (world: 37.4). This is one of the main reasons life expectancy at birth differs so much between countries.

Zambia compared with its region

Zambia is in the World Bank’s Sub-Saharan Africa region, where the average life expectancy is 64.8 years. It ranks #18 of 48 countries there.

#CountryOverallMenWomen
14Namibia67.563.571.5
15Tanzania67.264.470.0
16Comoros67.065.069.2
17Sudan66.563.469.8
18Zambia66.564.168.9
19South Africa66.362.869.8
20Gambia66.164.467.8
21Congo66.064.367.7
22Ghana65.763.368.2

See all 217 countries ranked →

Frequently asked questions

What is the life expectancy in Zambia?

66.5 years in 2024: 64.1 for men and 68.9 for women, according to the World Bank.

Do women live longer than men in Zambia?

Yes. Women in Zambia live about 4.8 years longer than men. Worldwide the gap is 4.9 years in favour of women.

How does Zambia rank for life expectancy?

Zambia ranks #182 out of 217 countries and territories with data. That is 7.0 years below the world average of 73.5.

What is the average age of death in Zambia?

Life expectancy at birth (66.5) is pulled down by deaths in childhood. Adults live longer: a 40-year-old man in Zambia can expect to live to about 69.0, and a 40-year-old woman to about 73.8.

Sources

  • World Bank, World Development Indicators: life expectancy at birth (SP.DYN.LE00.IN, SP.DYN.LE00.MA.IN, SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN), under-5 mortality (SH.DYN.MORT), causes of death (SH.DTH.NCOM.ZS, SH.DTH.INJR.ZS), mortality from major chronic diseases (SH.DYN.NCOM.MA.ZS, SH.DYN.NCOM.FE.ZS) and road traffic deaths (SH.STA.TRAF.P5). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Link

Data updated October 25, 2026.

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