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Zambia vs Zimbabwe
Side-by-side comparison of Zambia and Zimbabwe from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Zimbabwe
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 46 years
In short
Zambia scores 31.3 in the NationsTree Index (160th in the world) and Zimbabwe scores 25.2 (176th), a gap of 6.1 points. Their trees are 5.3 m and 5.4 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Zambia has 29% more people than Zimbabwe. Zambia has 93% more land area than Zimbabwe. The economy of Zimbabwe is 14% larger than that of Zambia (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Zambia 21.9 million and Zimbabwe 17.0 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $6,470 in Zimbabwe and $4,379 in Zambia (2025, international dollars). People in Zambia live on average 3.5 years longer (66.5 vs 63.1 years).
Of 27 indicators reported by both countries, Zambia ranks higher in the world on 14 and Zimbabwe on 13. Zambia is clearly stronger in institutions & safety. Zimbabwe is clearly stronger in economy, military and main industries.
As a nation, Zambia is the older of the two (statehood since 1964, 62 years), compared with Zimbabwe (since 1980). Over the last five years Zambia improved faster (direction score 71 vs 35 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zambia
100.6%
170th of 189
Zimbabwebetter
38.0%
54th of 189
Government budget balanceEconomy
Zambia
-3.8%
125th of 192
Zimbabwebetter
0.1%
36th of 192
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Zambiabetter
3,980
70th of 183
Zimbabwe
763
142nd of 183
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Zambiabetter
38.9
129th of 207
Zimbabwe
22.0
186th of 207
Regulatory qualityInstitutions & safety
Zambiabetter
47.7
132nd of 205
Zimbabwe
33.5
187th of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Zimbabwe overtook Zambia in GDP (PPP) in 2019 and has stayed ahead since.
Zambia overtook Zimbabwe in the NationsTree Index in 2015 and has stayed ahead since.
Zimbabwe overtook Zambia in GDP per person (PPP) in 2012 and has stayed ahead since.
Zambia overtook Zimbabwe in population in 2008 and has stayed ahead since.
Zambia overtook Zimbabwe in life expectancy in 2000 and has stayed ahead since.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
ZambiaZimbabwe All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Zambia | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 752,61238th/216 · 2024 | 390,76062nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 743,39037th/216 · 2024 | 386,85061st/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 21.9 m61st/217 · 2025 | 17.0 m73rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.77%19th/217 · 2025 | 1.88%54th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 28.7175th/216 · 2024 | 43.0161st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 45.9%159th/217 · 2025 | 40.5%171st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 41.0%18th/217 · 2025 | 40.3%23rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.0%215th/217 · 2025 | 3.6%177th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $28.88 bn116th/210 · 2025 | $51.22 bn96th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $95.97 bn103rd/199 · 2025 | $109.68 bn100th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $82.01 bn104th/199 · 2025 | $93.72 bn100th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,318187th/210 · 2025 | $3,021163rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $4,379173rd/199 · 2025 | $6,470157th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,200180th/201 · 2025 | $2,660158th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.8%86th/210 · 2025 | 8.1%10th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 13.9%165th/180 · 2025 | 104.7%178th/180 · 2022 |
| Unemployment % | 5.9%108th/187 · 2025 | 9.3%146th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 71.4%39th/55 · 2021 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 100.6%170th/189 · 2025 | 38.0%54th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -3.8%125th/192 · 2025 | 0.1%36th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 4.1%113th/197 · 2025 | 9.5%73rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 35.3%31st/200 · 2025 | 37.1%23rd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 8.7%114th/192 · 2025 | 14.9%45th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 57.0%106th/200 · 2025 | 48.2%154th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $8.85 bn115th/182 · 2024 | $7.50 bn118th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $6.97 bn128th/182 · 2024 | $9.74 bn119th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 35.0%97th/183 · 2024 | 18.1%152nd/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 27.6%145th/183 · 2024 | 23.4%156th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 62.5%122nd/183 · 2024 | 41.5%158th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 2.7%90th/170 · 2024 | 2.9%88th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 14.1%121st/171 · 2024 | 6.7%142nd/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 8.7%122nd/171 · 2024 | 21.6%68th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 73.0%2nd/171 · 2024 | 33.8%13th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.5%143rd/168 · 2024 | 2.8%124th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -5.5%144th/191 · 2025 | 3.6%46th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 4.5%46th/196 · 2025 | 1.9%107th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 35.3%5th/209 · 2021 | 6.4%64th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.05%84th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.23%23rd/195 · 2021 | 0.29%19th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 28.25%2nd/209 · 2021 | 4.24%25th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 6.78%11th/209 · 2021 | 1.82%39th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 5.1%138th/206 · 2024 | 10.4%101st/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 3,98070th/183 · 2022 | 763142nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 502,000122nd/194 · 2020 | 639,000114th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | — | $66.0 m150th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | — | 1.3%147th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 3.3 m36th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 66.5181st/217 · 2024 | 63.1200th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 48.4165th/196 · 2024 | 64.7180th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.32132nd/174 · 2022 | 0.14158th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.02010 | 2.02014 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 44.1%118th/153 · 2024 | 64.9%2017 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 56.8%149th/173 · 2024 | 52.4%2013 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 2.3%2015 | 36.7%38th/55 · 2019 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 3.5%215th/217 · 2025 | 6.3%171st/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.0%105th/193 · 2023 | 2.9%179th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 71.8%77th/98 · 2024 | 93.2%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 4.0%2012 | 7.7%143rd/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.595154th/193 · 2023 | 0.598153rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 51.5106th/108 · 2022 | 50.32019 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 71.7%107th/108 · 2022 | 49.2%2019 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 53.6%197th/215 · 2024 | 62.0%184th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 25.5%134th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 23.6%123rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 17.1%180th/186 · 2024 | 41.6%154th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 109122nd/210 · 2024 | 94150th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.8173rd/208 · 2024 | 1.9158th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.30117th/164 · 2018 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 1,24862nd/82 · 2019 | 3,12040th/82 · 2020 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 321,739124th/161 · 2023 | 92,494138th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.5445th/203 · 2024 | 0.7756th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 83.0%10th/212 · 2021 | 82.4%13th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 20.2120th/200 · 2023 | 15.082nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 60.5%31st/214 · 2024 | 35.7%93rd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 812103rd/149 · 2024 | 490121st/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 44.4136th/205 · 2025 | 34.2175th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 38.9129th/207 · 2025 | 22.0186th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 50.5135th/207 · 2025 | 38.6181st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 64.6121st/207 · 2025 | 50.3174th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 47.7132nd/205 · 2025 | 33.5187th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 52.1120th/205 · 2025 | 33.9175th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 5.22015 | 6.8105th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $405.9 m111th/156 · 2025 | $159.6 m133rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.3%102nd/156 · 2025 | 0.6%141st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.5%92nd/154 · 2025 | 5.3%2005 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 16,000113th/170 · 2020 | 51,00069th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.24%150th/168 · 2020 | 0.88%78th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2024 | 20.0 m90th/163 · 2023 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.0 m1990 | 4.0 m2001 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.28%2008 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1892nd/137 · 2024 | 2688th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 367112th/197 · 2023 | 52096th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Zambia or Zimbabwe?
Zambia has the larger population: 21.9 m (2025) compared with 17.0 m for Zimbabwe (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Zambia or Zimbabwe?
Zambia is larger: 752,612 km² (2024) compared with 390,760 km² for Zimbabwe (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Zambia or Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $109.68 bn intl. (2025) compared with $95.97 bn intl. for Zambia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Zambia or Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $6,470 intl. (2025) compared with $4,379 intl. for Zambia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Zambia or Zimbabwe?
Zambia has the higher life expectancy at birth: 66.5 years (2024) compared with 63.1 years for Zimbabwe (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Zambia or Zimbabwe?
Zambia spends more on the military: $405.9 m (2025) compared with $159.6 m for Zimbabwe (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Zambia or Zimbabwe?
Zambia: 31.3 points (160th in the world); Zimbabwe: 25.2 points (176th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Mali
Senegal
SudanSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Zambia vs Zimbabwe — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/zambia-vs-zimbabwe. Data as of 26 October 2026.