Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Zambia
Zambia: Renewable freshwater resources per capita was 3,980 cubic meters in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
3,980 cubic meters
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
70th
of 183 countries
All-time high
24,646 cubic meters
in 1961
All-time low
3,980 cubic meters
in 2022
Years of data
62
1961–2022
Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Zambia, 1961–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
In 2022, renewable freshwater resources per capita in Zambia stood at 3,980 cubic meters. That is the lowest value across all 62 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable freshwater resources per capita in Zambia peaked at 24,646 cubic meters in 1961 and was at its lowest, 3,980 cubic meters, in 2022.
Zambia ranks 70th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Zambia, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 24,646 cubic meters | — |
| 1962 | 23,883 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1963 | 23,140 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1964 | 22,421 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1965 | 21,722 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 21,039 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1967 | 20,374 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 1968 | 19,726 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 1969 | 19,108 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1970 | 18,557 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1971 | 18,053 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1972 | 17,552 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 17,054 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 1974 | 16,561 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 16,072 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 15,592 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 1977 | 15,125 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 1978 | 14,674 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 14,241 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 1980 | 13,821 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1981 | 13,404 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 1982 | 12,980 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 12,568 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 1984 | 12,188 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 11,827 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 11,479 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 11,152 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 1988 | 10,850 cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1989 | 10,568 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 10,300 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 10,048 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 9,808 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 9,577 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 9,351 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 9,128 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 8,907 cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 8,682 cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 8,458 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 8,234 cubic meters | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 8,006 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 7,767 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 7,532 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 7,302 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 7,073 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 6,844 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 6,612 cubic meters | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 6,383 cubic meters | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 6,159 cubic meters | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 5,945 cubic meters | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 5,743 cubic meters | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 5,555 cubic meters | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 5,378 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 5,208 cubic meters | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 5,046 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 4,891 cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 4,742 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 4,598 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 4,462 cubic meters | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 4,332 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 4,208 cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 4,091 cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 3,980 cubic meters | -2.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3,980 cubic meters is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2,227 cubic meters, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3,980 cubic meters is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,439 cubic meters, 2.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 21,784 cubic meters | 19,108 cubic meters | 24,646 cubic meters | 9 |
| 1970s | 16,348 cubic meters | 14,241 cubic meters | 18,557 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1980s | 12,084 cubic meters | 10,568 cubic meters | 13,821 cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 9,250 cubic meters | 8,234 cubic meters | 10,300 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,962 cubic meters | 5,945 cubic meters | 8,006 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,995 cubic meters | 4,332 cubic meters | 5,743 cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,093 cubic meters | 3,980 cubic meters | 4,208 cubic meters | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More energy & mining data for Zambia
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.0312 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 22.9% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 4.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is renewable freshwater resources per capita in Zambia?
- Renewable freshwater resources per capita in Zambia was 3,980 cubic meters in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest renewable freshwater resources per capita recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 24,646 cubic meters in 1961.
- What is the lowest renewable freshwater resources per capita recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,980 cubic meters in 2022.
- How does Zambia rank for renewable freshwater resources per capita?
- Zambia ranks 70th out of 183 countries with data for 2022.
- Is renewable freshwater resources per capita rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Renewable freshwater resources per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Renewable internal freshwater resources flows refer to internal renewable resources (internal river flows and groundwater from rainfall) in the country.