Water Use Efficiency in Zambia
Zambia: Water Use Efficiency was 5.3 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Water Use Efficiency in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for water use efficiency in Zambia is 5.3, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, water use efficiency in Zambia peaked at 5.3 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3.81, in 2000.
That places Zambia 145th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Water Use Efficiency in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.81 | — |
| 2001 | 4 | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 4.21 | +5.2% |
| 2003 | 4.12 | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 4.08 | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 4.11 | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 4.22 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 4.33 | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 4.41 | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 4.63 | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 4.86 | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 4.65 | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 5.12 | +10.1% |
| 2013 | 5.3 | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 5.15 | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 5.26 | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 5.2 | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 4.97 | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 5.05 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 4.97 | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 4.9 | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 4.8 | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 5.19 | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 5.3 | +2.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 5.3 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.59, 55% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 5.3 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.88, 36% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.19 | 3.81 | 4.63 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.05 | 4.65 | 5.3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.05 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More environment data for Zambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.11 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 3.49 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water use efficiency in Zambia?
- Water use efficiency in Zambia was 5.3 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest water use efficiency recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.3 in 2013.
- What is the lowest water use efficiency recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.81 in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for water use efficiency?
- Zambia ranks 145th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water use efficiency rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Water Use Efficiency (United States dollars per cubic meter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).