Highest scoring goals
Where Zambia is closest to the targets behind the goal, in the 2023 data.
All countries / Zambia
Zambia
54.3
SDG Index score, 2023 report
0–100, higher is better
0–100, higher is better
#145
of 166 countries worldwide
#28
of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa
+2.7
points since 2015, when the goals were adopted
(51.6 → 54.3)
+7.2
points since 2000 (47.1 → 54.3)
55.5
average of the 45 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
16/17
goals assessed in the 2023 data
SDG Index score, 2000–2022
The overall index for Zambia, against its region and the world.
Lowest scoring goals
Where the greatest distance is left to cover, in the 2023 data.
Most progress since 2015
Largest gain in goal score since the goals were adopted.
Went backwards
Goals scoring lower than they did in 2015.
All 17 goals
Each card shows the 2023 score, where it sits among the countries assessed on that goal, and how the score has moved since 2015. 1 goal not assessed for Zambia.
Goal 1
No Poverty
9.9
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
- #143 of 151 countries
- #38 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- -0.5 since 2015
Goal 2
Zero Hunger
59.5
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
- #94 of 166 countries
- #15 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +2.3 since 2015
Goal 3
Good Health and Well-being
45.6
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- #141 of 166 countries
- #25 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- +7.0 since 2015
Goal 4
Quality Education
66.7
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
- #116 of 166 countries
- #10 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +0.4 since 2015
Goal 5
Gender Equality
65.1
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
- #87 of 166 countries
- #14 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +4.4 since 2015
Goal 6
Clean Water and Sanitation
52.9
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
- #132 of 166 countries
- #21 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- +1.8 since 2015
Goal 7
Affordable and Clean Energy
44.7
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
- #127 of 166 countries
- #12 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- +1.8 since 2015
65.1
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
- #131 of 166 countries
- #25 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- +2.8 since 2015
20.2
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
- #146 of 166 countries
- #30 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- +7.8 since 2015
Goal 10
Reduced Inequalities
8.3
Reduce inequality within and among countries
- #147 of 149 countries
- #43 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- 0.0 since 2015
58.1
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
- #128 of 166 countries
- #19 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- +5.4 since 2015
94.9
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
- #32 of 166 countries
- #27 of 45 in region
- Top quartile
- +0.2 since 2015
Goal 13
Climate Action
98.0
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
- #30 of 166 countries
- #27 of 45 in region
- Top quartile
- +0.2 since 2015
Goal 14
Life Below Water
n/a
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Not applicable: this goal is not assessed for landlocked countries, so Zambia has no score.
Goal 15
Life on Land
68.4
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
- #71 of 166 countries
- #24 of 45 in region
- Upper-middle quartile
- -2.2 since 2015
44.1
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
- #141 of 166 countries
- #27 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- -3.5 since 2015
Goal 17
Partnerships for the Goals
54.9
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
- #106 of 166 countries
- #15 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +2.0 since 2015
Zambia Sub-Saharan Africa average all-country average — both taken over the countries assessed on each goal
Summary
Written by a language model from the scores above. Treat it as a reading of the table, not as a source.
About these numbers
- Goal scores run from 0 to 100 and measure distance to target: 0 is the worst outcome observed and 100 means the target has been reached on the indicators behind that goal. They are built to be compared across countries, not across goals.
- The headline score is the published figure. It is the average of all 17 goals, with any goal a country is not assessed on filled in at its region's average for that goal — so for a country with a gap, the 17 numbers below will not average to it.
- The headline score and rankings come from the Sustainable Development Report 2023. The 2000–2022 trends come from the SDG Index 2000-2022, so the two can differ slightly for the same goal.
- Rankings cover the 166 countries in the report. World, regional and income aggregates are excluded from every ranking.
- Not assessed for Zambia: Goal 14 (Life Below Water, not assessed for landlocked countries). A gap is left blank rather than filled with a zero.
- Comparison markers on each card are unweighted averages of the countries assessed on that goal. The published regional and world aggregates are weighted differently and appear only on their own profile pages.
- Quartile labels describe position within this dataset. They are not the Sustainable Development Report's own dashboard ratings, which are calculated per indicator.
- Get this profile as JSON →
Zambia achieved an SDG Index score of 54.3 in 2023, reflecting a positive trajectory from its 2000 score of 47.1. The country performs exceptionally well in Climate Action and Responsible Consumption and Production, while facing significant challenges in Reduced Inequalities and No Poverty. Despite these struggles, Zambia's overall progress shows a steady upward trend in development. However, its performance remains slightly below the Sub-Saharan African regional average of 55.5. While the nation has seen substantial improvements in areas like education and health since 2000, it continues to rank 145th globally, trailing behind many of its regional peers.