Share of women who are married or in a union in Zambia
Zambia: Share of women who are married or in a union was 14.6% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Share of women who are married or in a union in Zambia, 1970–2018
Source: United Nations (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2018, share of women who are married or in a union in Zambia stood at 14.6%. That is the lowest value across all 49 years on record.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women who are married or in a union in Zambia peaked at 37.4% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 14.6%, in 2018.
That places Zambia 43rd out of 221 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 49 years of available data.
Share of women who are married or in a union in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 37.4% | — |
| 1971 | 36.9% | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 36.4% | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 35.8% | -1.5% |
| 1974 | 35.3% | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 34.8% | -1.5% |
| 1976 | 34.2% | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 33.7% | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 33.2% | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 32.6% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 32.1% | -1.6% |
| 1981 | 31.6% | -1.7% |
| 1982 | 31.1% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 30.5% | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 30.0% | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 29.5% | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 28.9% | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 28.4% | -1.8% |
| 1988 | 27.9% | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 27.3% | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 26.8% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 26.3% | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 25.8% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 25.2% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 24.7% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 24.2% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 23.6% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 23.1% | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 22.6% | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 22.0% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 21.5% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 21.0% | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 20.4% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 19.9% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 19.4% | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 18.9% | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 17.8% | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 17.5% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 17.2% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 16.9% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 16.6% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 16.3% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 16.0% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 15.8% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 15.5% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 15.2% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 14.9% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 14.6% | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35.0% | 32.6% | 37.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.7% | 27.3% | 32.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.4% | 22.0% | 26.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.2% | 17.2% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.8% | 14.6% | 16.9% | 9 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 40 Guyana 15.8% compare
- 41 Guinea-Bissau 15.8% compare
- 42 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 15.6% compare
- 44 Brazil 14.3% compare
- 45 Belize 14.1% compare
- 46 Côte d'Ivoire 14.1% compare
More gender data for Zambia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 9,719 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 1.61 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 340,219 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 341,639 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 331,557 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 332,331 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 324,712 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 325,021 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 318,536 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 318,579 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women who are married or in a union in Zambia?
- Share of women who are married or in a union in Zambia was 14.6% in 2018, according to United Nations (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women who are married or in a union recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 37.4% in 1970.
- What is the lowest share of women who are married or in a union recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.6% in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for share of women who are married or in a union?
- Zambia ranks 43rd out of 221 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of women who are married or in a union rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women who are married or in a union. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of women aged 15-19 sharing a household with their partner, whether married, cohabiting, in consensual partnerships, or in other non-marital unions.