Inflation rates by country and year

0%45.8%91.7%137.5%183.3%
0%45.8%91.7%137.5%183.3%
198655.8%
200518.3%
202513.9%
Source: World Bank

Data: World Bank, annual %. For information only — not financial advice.

Year2025Inflation Rate13.9%

Behind the curve

Turning points in Zambia

  1. 2008↑ Upward pressure

    The world food price crisis — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Zambia imports much of its food and fuel, so the 2007–08 global price surge fed into domestic prices.

    Bank of Zambia
  2. 2015↑ Upward pressure

    The kwacha's collapse — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    The copper-price slump and the kwacha's collapse lifted Zambian inflation sharply in 2015–16.

    Bank of Zambia
  3. 2022↑ Upward pressure

    The post-pandemic inflation surge — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Higher global food and energy prices lifted Zambian inflation in 2022.

    Bank of Zambia

These are selected historical influences, not a complete account of inflation. An upward-pressure event can coincide with a peak when its inflationary effect has already occurred or when other forces begin pushing inflation lower. The markers show the years in which events occurred, although their effects may extend into later years.

What is the inflation in Zambia?

The annual inflation rate in Zambia was 13.9% in 2025, the most recent year in the World Bank dataset. That means prices rose 13.9% on average compared with the year before. Use the chart above to explore Zambia's full inflation history from 1986 to 2025, and to compare it with any other country.

How inflation in Zambia has changed

Inflation in Zambia peaked at 183.3% in 1993 and reached its lowest point at 6.4% in 2011. Averaged across the 40 years of available data (1986–2025), the rate has been 34.7% per year.

Frequently asked questions about inflation in Zambia

What is the current inflation rate in Zambia?

The latest available annual figure is 13.9% in 2025, from the World Bank. Because the figures are reported annually, they may not reflect the most recent monthly reading published by Zambia's statistical office.

What was the highest inflation rate in Zambia?

The highest annual inflation rate on record is 183.3%, reached in 1993.

What was the lowest inflation rate in Zambia?

The lowest annual inflation rate on record is 6.4%, recorded in 2011.

Where does the inflation data for Zambia come from?

All figures come from the World Bank's World Development Indicators (indicator FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG), which report annual consumer price inflation for more than 200 countries and territories from 1960 onward.