IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Zambia

Republic of Zambia

18,921,816
Population (as of July 19, 2021)

7,023,499
Registered Voters (as of Aug. 16, 2021)

57.50%
Average Turnout

13
Elections in our database

V-Dem* Score: 0.510
Regimes of the World Classification: Electoral Democracy
*Varieties of Democracy Electoral Democracy Index (2024)

CEDAW Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: July 17, 1980
Ratified Date: June 21, 1985

SIGI* Score: 29.5
Level of Discrimination: Low
*Social Institutions and Gender Index (2023)

CRPD Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: May 9, 2008
Ratified Date: Feb. 1, 2010

HDI* Score: 0.595
Category: Medium
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Zambian Presidency	None	Head of State & Government
Zambian National Assembly		Assembly

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Edgar LUNGU
Head of Government: President Edgar LUNGU
Assembly: Zambia has a unicameral National Assembly with 158 seats.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
In the National Assembly, 150 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms and 8 members are appointed by the President to serve 5-year terms.

Population and number of registered voters:

Population: 18,921,816 (2021 est)

Registered Voters: 7,023,499

Gender Data:

Female Population: 9,551,000 (2021 est)

Is Zambia a signatory to CEDAW: 17 July 1980

Has Zambia ratified CEDAW: 21 June 1985

Gender Quota: N/A

Female candidates in this election: N/A

Human Development Index Position: 146

Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium

Disability Data:

Is Zambia a signatory to CRPD: 9 May 2008

Has Zambia ratified CRPD: 1 February 2010

Population with a disability: 2,259,940

Elections

2021-08-12 | Status: Held
Zambian Presidency
Votes 4,983,099
Registered 7,023,499
Turnout 70.95

2021-08-01 | Status: Held
Zambian National Assembly
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2016-08-11 | Status: Held
Zambian Presidency
Votes 3,781,505
Registered 6,698,372
Turnout 56.45

2016-08-11 | Status: Held
Zambian National Assembly
Votes 3,752,879
Registered 6,698,372
Turnout 56.03

2016-08-11 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 3,345,471
Registered 7,528,091
Turnout 44.44

2015-01-20 | Status: Held
Zambian Presidency
Votes 1,671,662
Registered 5,166,084
Turnout 32.36

2011-09-20 | Status: Held
Zambian Presidency
Votes 2,789,340
Registered 5,167,154
Turnout 53.98

2011-09-20 | Status: Held
Zambian National Assembly
Votes 2,689,540
Registered 5,101,312
Turnout 52.72

2008-10-30 | Status: Held
Zambian Presidency
Votes 1,791,806
Registered 3,944,135
Turnout 45.43

2006-09-28 | Status: Held
Zambian Presidency
Votes 2,789,114
Registered 3,941,229
Turnout 70.77

2006-09-28 | Status: Held
Zambian National Assembly
Votes 2,781,360
Registered 3,941,229
Turnout 70.57

2001-12-27 | Status: Held
Zambian National Assembly
Votes 1,785,485
Registered 2,604,761
Turnout 68.55

2001-12-27 | Status: Held
Zambian Presidency
Votes 1,766,356
Registered 2,604,761
Turnout 67.81

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Zambian Presidency	2021-08-12	Held	4,983,099	7,023,499	70.95
Zambian National Assembly	2021-08-01	Held	-	-	-
Zambian Presidency	2016-08-11	Held	3,781,505	6,698,372	56.45
Zambian National Assembly	2016-08-11	Held	3,752,879	6,698,372	56.03
Referendum	2016-08-11	Held	3,345,471	7,528,091	44.44
Zambian Presidency	2015-01-20	Held	1,671,662	5,166,084	32.36
Zambian Presidency	2011-09-20	Held	2,789,340	5,167,154	53.98
Zambian National Assembly	2011-09-20	Held	2,689,540	5,101,312	52.72
Zambian Presidency	2008-10-30	Held	1,791,806	3,944,135	45.43
Zambian Presidency	2006-09-28	Held	2,789,114	3,941,229	70.77
Zambian National Assembly	2006-09-28	Held	2,781,360	3,941,229	70.57
Zambian National Assembly	2001-12-27	Held	1,785,485	2,604,761	68.55
Zambian Presidency	2001-12-27	Held	1,766,356	2,604,761	67.81

Voter Turnout

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