In 2023, the infant mortality rate in deaths per 1,000 live births in Zambia stood at 30.9. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 68.2, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Historical dataset showing Zambia infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Zambia ZM: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 41.500 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 43.000 Ratio for 2016. Zambia ZM: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 100.150 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 122.200 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 41.500 Ratio in 2017. Zambia ZM: Mortality Rate: Infant: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zambia – Table ZM.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate is the number of infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Yearly (annual) dataset of the Zambia Infant Mortality Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1960-12-31 to 2023-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Zambia ZM: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 58.400 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 60.900 Ratio for 2015. Zambia ZM: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 77.300 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 173.400 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 58.400 Ratio in 2016. Zambia ZM: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zambia – Table ZM.World Bank: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, female is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn female baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to female age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted Average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Actual value and historical data chart for Zambia Mortality Rate Infant Per 1 000 Live Births

Time series data for the statistic Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) and country Zambia. Indicator Definition:Infant mortality rate, female is the number of female infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 female live births in a given year.The indicator "Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births)" stands at 27.80 as of 12/31/2023, the lowest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -4.14 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -4.14.The 3 year change in percent is -10.61.The 5 year change in percent is -18.24.The 10 year change in percent is -31.70.The Serie's long term average value is 71.23. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is 60.97 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2023, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is +0.0%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1992, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is -70.98%.

Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) in Zambia was reported at 27.8 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zambia - Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Infant mortality rate of Western dipped by 1.12% from 71.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023 to 70.5 per 1,000 live births in 2024. Since the 0.88% fall in 2014, infant mortality rate dropped by 10.42% in 2024.

Zambia ZM: Number of Death: Infant data was reported at 26,418.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 26,748.000 Person for 2016. Zambia ZM: Number of Death: Infant data is updated yearly, averaging 28,662.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 44,791.000 Person in 1999 and a record low of 18,000.000 Person in 1960. Zambia ZM: Number of Death: Infant data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zambia – Table ZM.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Number of infants dying before reaching one year of age.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Sum;

This dataset contains supplementary tables including SAS code and dataset used for estimating the apparent burden of sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUID) in Lusaka, Zambia. The dataset is from verbal autopsies conducted on infants who died in Lusaka, Zambia, between 2017 and 2020 and was collected as part of the Zambian Pertussis/RSV Infant Mortality Estimation (ZPRIME) project. Using this dataset, we performed qualitative analysis of free text narratives of the final series of events leading to each infant’s death. Infants who were otherwise well with no antecedent illness prior to death and found dead in bed after a sleep episode were classified as SUID. Study oversight for ZPRIME was provided by the institutional review board of Boston University Medical Center and the University of Zambia (UNZA)

In 2023, the crude birth rate in live births per 1,000 inhabitants in Zambia amounted to 33.08. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 15.87, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Over the last two observations, the life expectancy has significantly increased in all gender groups As part of the positive trend, the life expectancy reaches the maximum value for the different genders at the end of the comparison period. Particularly noteworthy is the life expectancy of women at birth, which has the highest value of 68.67 years. Life expectancy at birth refers to the number of years the average newborn is expected to live, providing that mortality patterns at the time of birth do not change thereafter.Find further similar statistics for other countries or regions like North Korea and Fiji.

The 1996 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) is a nationally representative survey conducted by the Central Statistical Office at the request of the Ministry of Health, with the aim of gathering reliable information on fertility, childhood and maternal mortality rates, maternal and child health indicators, contraceptive knowledge and use, and knowledge and prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including AIDS. The survey is a follow-up to the Zambia DHS survey carried out in 1992. The primary objectives of the ZDHS are: To collect up-to-date information on fertility, infant and child mortality and family planning; To collect information on health-related matters such as breastfeeding, antenatal care, children's immunisations and childhood diseases; To assess the nutritional status of mothers and children; iv) To support dissemination and utilisation of the results in planning, managing and improving family planning and health services in the country; and To enhance the survey capabilities of the institutions involved in order to facilitate the implementation of surveys of this type in the future. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FERTILITY Fertility Trends. The 1996 ZDHS survey results indicate that the level of fertility in Zambia is continuing to decline. Fertility Differentials. Some women are apparently leading the fertility decline. Moreover, women who have received some secondary education have the lowest level of fertility. Age at First Birth. Childbearing begins early in Zambia, with over one-third of women becoming mothers by the time they reach age 18 and around two-thirds having had a child by the time they reach age 20. Birth Intervals. The majority of Zambian children (81 percent) are born after a "safe" birth interval (24 or more months apart), with 36 percent born at least 36 months after a prior birth. Nevertheless, 19 percent of non-first births occur less than 24 months after the preceding birth. The overall median birth interval is 32 months. Fertility Preferences. Survey data indicate that there is a strong desire for children and a preference for large families in Zambian society. Unplanned Fertility. Despite the increasing level of contraceptive use, ZDHS data indicate that unplanned pregnancies are still common. FAMILY PLANNING Increasing Use of Contraception. The contraceptive prevalence rate in Zambia has increased significantly over the past five years, rising from 15 percent in 1992 to 26 percent in 1996. Differentials in Family Planning Use. Differentials in current use of family planning by province are large. Source of Contraception. Six in ten users obtain their methods from public sources, while 24 percent use non-governmental medical sources and shops and friends account for the remaining 13 percent. Government health centres (41 percent) and government hospitals (16 percent) are the most common sources of contraceptive methods. Knowledge of Contraceptive Methods. Knowledge of contraceptive methods is nearly universal, with 96 percent of all women and men knowing at least one method of family planning. Family Planning Messages. One reason for the increase in level of contraceptive awareness is that family planning messages are prevalent. Unmet Need for Family Planning. ZDHS data show that there is a considerable unmet need for family planning services in Zambia. MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH Maternal Health Care. ZDHS data show some encouraging results regarding maternal health care, as well as to some areas in which improvements could be made. Results show that most Zambian mothers receive antenatal care, 3 percent from a doctor and 93 percent from a nurse or trained midwife. High Childhood Mortality. One of the more disturbing findings from the survey is that child survival has not improved over the past few years. Childhood Vaccination Coverage. Vaccination coverage against the most common childhood illnesses has increased recently. Childhood Health. ZDHS data indicate that Zambian mothers are reasonably well-informed about childhood illnesses and that a high proportion are treated appropriately. Breastfeeding Practices. The ZDHS results indicate that breastfeeding is almost universally practised in Zambia, with a median duration of 20 months. Knowledge and Behaviour Regarding AIDS. Survey results indicate that virtually all respondents had heard of AIDS. Common sources of information were friends/relatives, the radio, and health workers. The vast majority of respondents80 percent of women and 94 percent of mensay they have changed their behaviour in order to avoid contracting AIDS, mostly by restricting themselves to one sexual partner.

Zambia ZM: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 38.131 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 38.441 Ratio for 2015. Zambia ZM: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 45.505 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50.213 Ratio in 1962 and a record low of 38.131 Ratio in 2016. Zambia ZM: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zambia – Table ZM.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Abstract

The 1992 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) was a nationally representative sample survey of women age 15-49. The survey was designed to provide information onlevels and trends of fertility, infant and child mortality, family planning knowledge and use, and maternal and child health. The ZDHS was carried out by the University of Zambia in collaboration with Central Statistical Office and the Ministry of Health. Fieldwork was conducted from mid-January to mid-May 1992, during which time, over 6000 households and 7000 women were interviewed.

The primary objectives of the ZDHS are: - To collect up-to-date information on fertility, infant and child mortality and family planning; - To collect information on health-related matters such as breastfeeding, antenatal care, children's immunizations and childhood diseases; - To assess the nutritional status of mothers and children; - To support dissemination and utilisation of the results in planning, managing and improving family planning and health services in the country; and - To enhance the survey capabilities of the institutions Involved in order to facilitate the implementation of surveys of this type in the future.

MAIN RESULTS

• Results imply that fertility in Zambia has been declining over the past decade or so; at current levels, Zambian women will give birth to an average of 6.5 children during their reproductive years.

• Contraceptive knowledge is nearly universal in Zambia; over 90 percent of married women reported knowing about at least one modern contraceptive method.Over half of women using modern methods obtained them from government sources.

• Women in Zambia am marrying somewhat later than they did previously. The median age at marriage has increased from 17 years or under among women now in their 30s and 40s to 18 years or older among women in their 20s. Women with secondary education marry three years later (19.9) than women with no education (16.7).

• Over one-fifth (22 percent) of currently married women do not want to have any more children.

• One of the most striking findings from the ZDHS is the high level of child mortality and its apparent increase in recent years.

• Information on various aspects of maternal and child healtlr--antenatal care, vaccinations, bmastfeeding and food supplementation, and illness---was collected in the ZDHS on births in the five years preceding the survey.

• ZDHS data indic ate that haft of the births in Zambia are delivered at home and half in health facilities.

• Based on information obtained from health cards and mothers' reports, 95 percent of children age 12- 23 months are vaccinated against tuberculosis, 94 percent have received at least one dose of DPT and polio vaccines, and 77 percent have been vaccinated against measles. Sixty-seven percent of children age 12-23 months have been fully immunised and only 4 percent have not received any immuhisations.

• Almost all children in Zambia (98 percent) are breastfed. The median duration of breasffeeding is relatively long (19 months), but supplemental liquids and foods are introduced at an early age. By age 2-3 months, half of all children are being given supplementary food or liquid.

• ZDHS data indicate that undemutrition is an obstacle to improving child health; 40 percent of children under age five are stunted or short for their age, compared to an international reference population. Five percent of children are wasted or thin for their height and 25 percent are underweight for their age.

• The ZDHS included several questions about knowledge of AIDS. Almost all respondents (99 percent) had heard of AIDS and the vast majority (90 percent) knew that AIDS is transmitted through sexual intercourse.

The implementation of all these aspects of the PHC programmes requires multi-sectoral action and close collaboration among the various govemment institutions. The Govemment has therefore set up multi- sectoral PHC committees as an integral part of the PHC basic supportive manpower and inter-sectoral collaboration with other ministries has been given prominence.

Geographic coverage

The 1992 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) is a nationally representative sample survey, also representative at the level of the nine provinces.

Analysis unit

• Household
• women age 15-49
• Children under five years

Universe

All women of reproductive age, age 15-49 in the total sample of households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data

Sampling procedure

Zambia is divided administratively into 9 provinces and 57 districts. In preparation for the 1990 Census of Population, Housing and Agriculture, the entire country was demarcated into Census Supervisory Areas (CSAs). Each CSA was in turn divided into Standard Enumeration Areas (SEAs) of roughly equal size. The measure of size used for selecting the ZDHS sample was the number of households obtained during a quick count operation carried out in 1987. The frame of 4240 CSAs was stratified into urban anti rural areas within each province, with the districts ordered geographically within provinces, thus providing further implicit stratification.

The ZDHS sample was selected from this frame in three stages. First, 262 CSAs (149 in urban areas and 113 in rural areas) were selected from this frame with probability proportional to size (the number of households from the quick count). One SEA was then selected from within each sampled CSA, again with probability proportion to size. The Central Statistical Office (CSO) then organised a household listing operation, in which all structures in the selected SEAs were numbered (on doors), the names of the heads of households were listed and the households were marked by number on sketch maps of the SEAs. These household lists were used to select a systematic sample of households for the third and final stage of sampling. Initially, the objective of the ZDHS sample design was to be able to produce estimates at the national level, for urban and rural areas separately, and for the larger provinces. Since Zambia's population is almost equally divided by urban and rural residence, a self weighting sample was originally designed. Later, it was decided that it would be desirable to be able to produce separate estimates for all nine provinces. To achieve this objective, additional rural CSAs (and SEAs) were selected inLuapula, North- eastern and Western Provinces and the sample take (number of households) in each rural SEA in these provinces was reduced from 42 to 35 in order to minimise the total sample size increase (the sample take was 20 households in urban areas). As a result of this oversampling in Luapula, North-Western and Western Provinces, the ZDHS sample is not self-weighting at the national level.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face

Research instrument

Two types of questionnaires were used for the ZDHS: (a) the Household Questionnaire and (b) the Individual Questionnaire.

The contents of these questionnaires were based on the DHS Model B Questionnaire, which is designed for use in countries with low levels of contraceptive use. Additions and modifications to the model questionnaires were made after consultation with members of the Department of Social Development Studies of the University of Zambia, the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the Ministry of Health, the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ), and the National Commission for Development Planning. The questionnaires were developed in English and then translated into and printed in seven of the most widely spoken languages (Bemba, Kaonde, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja and Tonga).

a) The Household Questionnaire was used to list all the usual members and visitors of a selected household. Some basic information was collected on the characteristics of each person listed, including his/her age, sex, education, and relationship to the head of the household. The main purpose of the Household Questionnaire was to identify women who were eligible for the individual interview. In addition, information was collected on the household itself, such as the source of water, type of toilet facilities, material used for the floor of the house, and ownership of various consumer goods.

b) The Individual Questionnaire was used to collect information from women age 15-49 about the following topics: Background characteristics (education, religion, etc.); Reproductive history; Knowledge and use of family planning methods; Antenatal and delivery care; Breastfeeding and weaning practices; Vaccinations and health of children under age five; Marriage; Fertility preferences; Husband's background and respondent's work; and Awareness of AIDS.

In addition, interviewing teams measured the height and weight of all children under age five and their mothers.

Cleaning operations

All questionnaires for the ZDHS were returned to the University of Zambia for data processing. The processing operation consisted of office editing, coding of open-ended questions, data entry, and editing errors found by the computer programs. Two programmers (one from the CSO and one from the University), one questionnaire administrator, two office editors, and three data entry operators were responsible for the data processing operation. The data were processed on four microcomputers owned by the Department of Social Development Studies at the University of Zambia. The ZDHS data entry and editing programs were written in ISSA (Integrated System for Survey Analysis) and followed the standard DHS consistency checks and editing procedures. Simple range and skip errors were corrected at the data entry stage. Secondary machine editing of the

Abstract

The primary objective of the 2018 ZDHS was to provide up-to-date estimates of basic demographic and health indicators. Specifically, the ZDHS collected information on: - Fertility levels and preferences; contraceptive use; maternal and child health; infant, child, and neonatal mortality levels; maternal mortality; and gender, nutrition, and awareness regarding HIV/AIDS and other health issues relevant to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - Ownership and use of mosquito nets as part of the national malaria eradication programmes - Health-related matters such as breastfeeding, maternal and childcare (antenatal, delivery, and postnatal), children’s immunisations, and childhood diseases - Anaemia prevalence among women age 15-49 and children age 6-59 months - Nutritional status of children under age 5 (via weight and height measurements) - HIV prevalence among men age 15-59 and women age 15-49 and behavioural risk factors related to HIV - Assessment of situation regarding violence against women

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual
• Children age 0-5
• Woman age 15-49
• Man age 15-59

Universe

The survey covered all de jure household members (usual residents), all women age 15-49, all men age 15-59, and all children age 0-5 years who are usual members of the selected households or who spent the night before the survey in the selected households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The sampling frame used for the 2018 ZDHS is the Census of Population and Housing (CPH) of the Republic of Zambia, conducted in 2010 by ZamStats. Zambia is divided into 10 provinces. Each province is subdivided into districts, each district into constituencies, and each constituency into wards. In addition to these administrative units, during the 2010 CPH each ward was divided into convenient areas called census supervisory areas (CSAs), and in turn each CSA was divided into enumeration areas (EAs). An enumeration area is a geographical area assigned to an enumerator for the purpose of conducting a census count; according to the Zambian census frame, each EA consists of an average of 110 households.

The current version of the EA frame for the 2010 CPH was updated to accommodate some changes in districts and constituencies that occurred between 2010 and 2017. The list of EAs incorporates census information on households and population counts. Each EA has a cartographic map delineating its boundaries, with identification information and a measure of size, which is the number of residential households enumerated in the 2010 CPH. This list of EAs was used as the sampling frame for the 2018 ZDHS.

The 2018 ZDHS followed a stratified two-stage sample design. The first stage involved selecting sample points (clusters) consisting of EAs. EAs were selected with a probability proportional to their size within each sampling stratum. A total of 545 clusters were selected.

The second stage involved systematic sampling of households. A household listing operation was undertaken in all of the selected clusters. During the listing, an average of 133 households were found in each cluster, from which a fixed number of 25 households were selected through an equal probability systematic selection process, to obtain a total sample size of 13,625 households. Results from this sample are representative at the national, urban and rural, and provincial levels.

For further details on sample selection, see Appendix A of the final report.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Four questionnaires were used in the 2018 ZDHS: the Household Questionnaire, the Woman’s Questionnaire, the Man’s Questionnaire, and the Biomarker Questionnaire. The questionnaires, based on The DHS Program’s Model Questionnaires, were adapted to reflect the population and health issues relevant to Zambia. Input on questionnaire content was solicited from various stakeholders representing government ministries and agencies, nongovernmental organisations, and international cooperating partners. After all questionnaires were finalised in English, they were translated into seven local languages: Bemba, Kaonde, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, and Tonga. In addition, information about the fieldworkers for the survey was collected through a self-administered Fieldworker Questionnaire.

Cleaning operations

All electronic data files were transferred via a secure internet file streaming system to the ZamStats central office in Lusaka, where they were stored on a password-protected computer. The data processing operation included secondary editing, which required resolution of computer-identified inconsistencies and coding of open-ended questions. The data were processed by two IT specialists and one secondary editor who took part in the main fieldwork training; they were supervised remotely by staff from The DHS Program. Data editing was accomplished using CSPro software. During the fieldwork, field-check tables were generated to check various data quality parameters, and specific feedback was given to the teams to improve performance. Secondary editing and data processing were initiated in July 2018 and completed in March 2019.

Response rate

Of the 13,595 households in the sample, 12,943 were occupied. Of these occupied households, 12,831 were successfully interviewed, yielding a response rate of 99%.

In the interviewed households, 14,189 women age 15-49 were identified as eligible for individual interviews; 13,683 women were interviewed, yielding a response rate of 96% (the same rate achieved in the 2013-14 survey). A total of 13,251 men were eligible for individual interviews; 12,132 of these men were interviewed, producing a response rate of 92% (a 1 percentage point increase from the previous survey).

Of the households successfully interviewed, 12,505 were interviewed in 2018 and 326 in 2019. As the large majority of households were interviewed in 2018 and the year for reference indicators is 2018.

Sampling error estimates

The estimates from a sample survey are affected by two types of errors: nonsampling errors and sampling errors. Nonsampling errors are the results of mistakes made in implementing data collection and data processing, such as failure to locate and interview the correct household, misunderstanding of the questions on the part of either the interviewer or the respondent, and data entry errors. Although numerous efforts were made during the implementation of the 2018 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) to minimise this type of error, nonsampling errors are impossible to avoid and difficult to evaluate statistically.

Sampling errors, on the other hand, can be evaluated statistically. The sample of respondents selected in the 2018 ZDHS is only one of many samples that could have been selected from the same population, using the same design and expected size. Each of these samples would yield results that differ somewhat from the results of the actual sample selected. Sampling errors are a measure of the variability among all possible samples. Although the degree of variability is not known exactly, it can be estimated from the survey results.

Sampling error is usually measured in terms of the standard error for a particular statistic (mean, percentage, etc.), which is the square root of the variance. The standard error can be used to calculate confidence intervals within which the true value for the population can reasonably be assumed to fall. For example, for any given statistic calculated from a sample survey, the value of that statistic will fall within a range of plus or minus two times the standard error of that statistic in 95% of all possible samples of identical size and design.

If the sample of respondents had been selected as a simple random sample, it would have been possible to use straightforward formulas for calculating sampling errors. However, the 2018 ZDHS sample is the result of a multi-stage stratified design, and, consequently, it was necessary to use more complex formulas. Sampling errors are computed in SAS, using programs developed by ICF. These programs use the Taylor linearisation method to estimate variances for survey estimates that are means, proportions, or ratios. The Jackknife repeated replication method is used for variance estimation of more complex statistics such as fertility and mortality rates.

Note: A more detailed description of estimates of sampling errors are presented in APPENDIX B of the survey report.

Data appraisal

Data Quality Tables - Household age distribution - Age distribution of eligible and interviewed women - Age distribution of eligible and interviewed men - Completeness of reporting - Births by calendar years - Reporting of age at death in days - Reporting of age at death in months - Completeness of information on siblings - Sibship size and sex ratio of siblings - Height and weight data completeness and quality for children - Number of enumeration areas completed by month, according to province, Zambia DHS 2018

Note: Data quality tables are presented in APPENDIX C of the report.

Zambia ZM: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data was reported at 59.281 Year in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 58.903 Year for 2015. Zambia ZM: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 46.818 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 59.281 Year in 2016 and a record low of 41.158 Year in 1995. Zambia ZM: Life Expectancy at Birth: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zambia – Table ZM.World Bank: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Zambia ZM: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data was reported at 61.874 Year in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 61.397 Year for 2015. Zambia ZM: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 48.575 Year from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 61.874 Year in 2016 and a record low of 43.166 Year in 1995. Zambia ZM: Life Expectancy at Birth: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Zambia – Table ZM.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, or derived from male and female life expectancy at birth from sources such as: (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in Zambia was reported at 33.08 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Zambia - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.