Photo: Kkibumba · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 17 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Zambia: Digital & Technology
How ready is a country to use, make and trade technology?
Zambia is placed 94th of 198 countries on digital & technology in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GovTech Maturity Index 0.602 (2025); Government AI Readiness Index 43.9 (2025).
Share
Digital & Technology
94th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 0.602GovTech Maturity Index, 2025GTMI score (0–1)
- 43.9Government AI Readiness Index, 2025AI readiness score (0–100)
- 0.391Government Cyber Security Capacity, 2025Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
- 20.02Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports, 2024Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Zambia on digital & technology — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
0.602
GTMI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Zambia: 0.602. Across the 196 countries in this edition, values run from 0.01 (North Korea) to 0.997 (South Korea); the world median is 0.63.
- World median
- 0.63
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.944 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Angola 0.593 · DR Congo 0.393 · Mozambique 0.393 · Malawi 0.328 · Namibia 0.363 · Tanzania 0.88 · Zimbabwe 0.452
43.9
AI readiness score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 82nd of 195 by Oxford Insights
Zambia: 43.9. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 12.12 (Guinea-Bissau) to 88.36 (United States); the world median is 40.19.
- World median
- 40.19
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 52.76 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Angola 27.09 · DR Congo 25.62 · Mozambique 22.31 · Malawi 24.22 · Namibia 37.08 · Tanzania 41.45 · Zimbabwe 29.53
Key 3 of 4
Government Cyber Security Capacity
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.391
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity
Higher is better
Zambia: 0.391. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from -2.66 (Liberia) to 3.715 (Estonia); the world median is 0.196.
- World median
- 0.196
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 2.223 Ethiopia
- Land neighbours
- Angola -0.295 · DR Congo -0.869 · Mozambique -0.566 · Malawi -1.788 · Namibia -0.469 · Tanzania 0.35 · Zimbabwe 0.095
Key 4 of 4
Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
20.02
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
Higher is better
Zambia: 20.02. Across the 170 countries in this edition, values run from 0.377 (Gambia) to 87.15 (Ireland); the world median is 25.42.
- World median
- 25.42
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 66.72 Mauritius
- Land neighbours
- Angola 29.98 · DR Congo 2.36 · Mozambique 2.518 · Malawi 36.66 · Namibia 25.86 · Zimbabwe 5.438
02Over time
Which way Zambia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government AI Readiness Index
AI readiness score (0–100) · higher is better
ZambiaWorld median
Zambia rose from 32.05 in 2020 to 43.9 in 2025; the world median went from 39.58 to 40.19.
Every year’s figures
Year Zambia World median 2025 43.9 40.2 2024 41.9 43.3 2023 32.4 41.4 2022 29.6 40.3 2021 31.2 44.1 2020 32.1 39.6 Government Cyber Security Capacity
Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity · higher is better
ZambiaWorld median
Zambia rose from -0.862 in 2000 to 0.391 in 2025; the world median went from -0.514 to 0.196.
Every year’s figures
Year Zambia World median 2025 0.4 0.20 2024 0.4 0.11 2023 0.4 0.14 2022 0.1 0.16 2021 0.1 0.12 2020 0.1 0.12 2019 0.1 0.10 2018 -0.2 -0.05 2017 -0.2 -0.08 2016 -0.2 -0.10 2015 -0.2 -0.17 2014 -0.2 -0.21 2013 -0.2 -0.21 2012 -0.2 -0.25 2011 -0.9 -0.32 2010 -0.9 -0.31 2009 -0.9 -0.50 2008 -0.9 -0.51 2007 -0.9 -0.51 2006 -0.9 -0.55 2005 -0.9 -0.55 2004 -0.9 -0.55 2003 -0.9 -0.55 2002 -0.9 -0.51 2001 -0.9 -0.51 2000 -0.9 -0.51 Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports
Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) · higher is better
ZambiaWorld median
Zambia rose from 6.257 in 2010 to 20.02 in 2024; the world median went from 19.88 to 25.42.
Every year’s figures
Year Zambia World median 2024 20.02 25.42 2023 7.19 26.03 2022 4.34 26.04 2021 11.00 29.80 2020 15.14 29.47 2019 12.80 18.36 2018 14.39 20.09 2017 16.69 18.32 2016 16.39 18.15 2015 16.40 19.57 2014 16.16 21.00 2013 17.34 20.50 2012 39.50 19.56 2011 7.09 19.21 2010 6.26 19.88
03In context
Zambia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on digital & technology, never a place within the region.
Zambia and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GovTech Maturity IndexGTMI score (0–1) | Government AI Readiness IndexAI readiness score (0–100) | Government Cyber Security CapacityOriginal latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.7); higher = more capacity | Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsDigitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tanzania | 63rd | 0.8798 | 41.45 | 0.35 | — |
| Zambia | 94th | 0.6017 | 43.9 | 0.391 | 20.02 |
 Angola | =106th | 0.5929 | 27.09 | -0.295 | 29.98 |
 Namibia | =117th | 0.3634 | 37.08 | -0.469 | 25.86 |
 Zimbabwe | 138th | 0.4525 | 29.53 | 0.095 | 5.438 |
 Malawi | 146th | 0.3282 | 24.22 | -1.788 | 36.66 |
 Mozambique | 165th | 0.3930 | 22.31 | -0.566 | 2.518 |
 DR Congo | 166th | 0.3928 | 25.62 | -0.869 | 2.36 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on digital & technology
The countries immediately above and below Zambia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Zambia is ahead of the world, and behind
19 more statistics filed under digital & technology, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median5
Statistics on which Zambia does better than the middle country measured.
Government Internet ShutdownsV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.0231.9541.023▲ Improved since 2015
Zambia: 1.954 · world median 1.023 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4 to +2); higher = fewer shutdowns. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.547 to 2.081; higher is better.
Position 5th of 176 · derived.
Government Social Media CensorshipV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5052.1150.505▲ Improved since 2015
Zambia: 2.115 · world median 0.505 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4.5 to +2.4); higher = less censorship. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.721 to 2.295; higher is better.
Position 6th of 176 · derived.
Government Dissemination of False Information (Domestic)V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median -0.1141.328-0.114▲ Improved since 2015
Zambia: 1.328 · world median -0.114 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.2); higher = less disinformation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.392 to 2.93; higher is better.
Position 34th of 176 · derived.
Made or Received a Digital PaymentWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 51.6571.1651.65▲ Improved since 2014
Zambia: 71.16 · world median 51.65 · Adults who made or received a digital payment in the past year (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 12.26 to 94.91; higher is better.
Position 21st of 98 · derived.
Firms Experiencing Internet DisruptionsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.3531.2532.35No earlier reading
Zambia: 31.25 · world median 32.35 · Firms that experienced internet outages or slow-downs (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.735 to 82.39; lower is better.
Position 84th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Zambia does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms with Their Own WebsiteWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 62.3961.9762.39No earlier reading
Zambia: 61.97 · world median 62.39 · Firms with their own website (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.824 to 97.88; higher is better.
Position 93rd of 181 · derived.
Share of Firms' Payments Made ElectronicallyWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 64.2263.0864.22No earlier reading
Zambia: 63.08 · world median 64.22 · Payments made electronically in a typical month, excluding payroll and payments to government (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 2.172 to 99.91; higher is better.
AI User Share of the Working-Age PopulationMicrosoft AI Economy Institute · 2026 · world median 15.4513.315.45▼ Worsened since 2025
Zambia: 13.3 · world median 15.45 · Generative-AI users (% of population aged 15–64). Microsoft AI Economy Institute, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 6.1 to 73.3; higher is better.
Primary Schools with Internet for TeachingUIS · 2024 · world median 98.6632.0598.66▲ Improved since 2016
Zambia: 32.05 · world median 98.66 · Primary schools with internet access for teaching (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Mobile Phone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 91.6878.8191.68No earlier reading
Zambia: 78.81 · world median 91.68 · Adults who own a mobile phone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 45.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 119th of 140 · derived.
ICT Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 0.9750.060.975▼ Worsened since 2014
Zambia: 0.06 · world median 0.975 · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.45; higher is better.
Position 102nd of 119 · derived.
Internet Use Among AdultsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 83.0538.8683.05No earlier reading
Zambia: 38.86 · world median 83.05 · Adults who used the internet in the past three months (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 11.06 to 99.12; higher is better.
Position 122nd of 140 · derived.
Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.1960.485No real change since 2013
Zambia: 0.196 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.
Position 150th of 170 · derived.
Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2025 · world median 0.2060.3870.206▼ Worsened since 2015
Zambia: 0.387 · world median 0.206 · Digital STRI (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.021 to 0.649; lower is better.
Position 16th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Smartphone OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 78.7829.4478.78No earlier reading
Zambia: 29.44 · world median 78.78 · Adults whose main mobile phone is a smartphone (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 8.663 to 97.36; higher is better.
Position 126th of 140 · derived.
No better end4
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
GitHub DevelopersGitHub · 2026 · world median 84,67064,53184,670Moved since 2020
Zambia: 64,531 · world median 84,670 · Developer accounts located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 110 to 32,410,529.
GitHub RepositoriesGitHub · 2026 · world median 141,45497,750141,454Moved since 2020
Zambia: 97,750 · world median 141,454 · Public repositories located in the economy (as of quarter end). GitHub, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 142 to 77,284,974.
GitHub Git PushesGitHub · 2025 · world median 148,71468,766148,714Moved since 2020
Zambia: 68,766 · world median 148,714 · Git pushes during the quarter. GitHub, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,967 to 40,768,192.
Anthropic AI Usage IndexAnthropic · 2026 · world median 0.960.150.96No earlier reading
Zambia: 0.15 · world median 0.96 · Claude usage index (1 = in proportion to working-age population). Anthropic, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 6.4.
No current reading for Zambia
ICT Services Exports (last 2023) and Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Digital & Technology among Zambia’s 15 topics
Digital & Technology is Zambia’s 3rd best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 61st of 1864/4 keys
- Energy63rd of 1653/3 keys
- Digital & Technology94th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Security99th of 1774/4 keys
- Gender & Equality103rd of 1834/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions113th of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties117th of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture127th of 1844/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital142nd of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 144th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience143rd of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation140th of 1764/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing174th of 2004/4 keys
- Work & Labour163rd of 1824/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality158th of 1593/3 keys
No standing on Mobility & Trade: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on digital & technology
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Zambia can most readily be measured against.
=1
EstoniaNorthern Europe
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 ee, greyscale
=1
South KoreaEastern Asia
Joint 1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia
3rd of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Mauritius20th4/4 keysThis page
Zambia94th4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Zambia on digital & technology: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Zambia rank on digital & technology?
Zambia is placed 94th of 198 countries on Digital & Technology in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (GovTech Maturity Index, Government AI Readiness Index, Government Cyber Security Capacity and Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GovTech Maturity Index figure for Zambia?
0.602 in 2025 (gTMI score (0–1)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.63.
What is the latest Government AI Readiness Index figure for Zambia?
43.9 in 2025 (aI readiness score (0–100)), according to Oxford Insights. The world median in the same edition was 40.19.
How does Zambia compare with DR Congo on digital & technology?
DR Congo is placed 166th of 198, and Zambia 94th. GovTech Maturity Index: DR Congo 0.393, Zambia 0.602; Government AI Readiness Index: DR Congo 25.62, Zambia 43.9; Government Cyber Security Capacity: DR Congo -0.869, Zambia 0.391; Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports: DR Congo 2.36, Zambia 20.02.
How have Zambia’s digital & technology figures changed?
Government AI Readiness Index rose from 32.05 in 2020 to 43.9 in 2025; Government Cyber Security Capacity rose from -0.862 in 2000 to 0.391 in 2025; Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports rose from 6.257 in 2010 to 20.02 in 2024.
Which digital & technology statistics are missing for Zambia?
No current reading is published for Zambia on ICT Services Exports and Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Broadband and mobile subscriptions, connection speeds and the cost of getting online are absent, for the licence reason above; internet use and phone ownership, from the World Bank’s own household survey, and firms’ websites and internet disruptions, from its Enterprise Surveys, are published here as context. The ICT share of goods exports votes under Mobility & Trade. Digital public services and data-protection law are not held yet. Research and development spending is filed under Education & Knowledge, and what an economy knows how to make is under Economy & Innovation.
How the Digital & Technology standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The digital & technology method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GovTech Maturity Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Government AI Readiness Index — Oxford Insights, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Cyber Security Capacity — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Digitally-Deliverable Services Exports — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 19 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Zambia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Zambia (banner) — Kkibumba, CC0
- Estonia — Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Singapore — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Zambia: Digital & Technology — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/zambia/digital