Animals slaughtered for meat in Zambia
Zambia: Animals slaughtered for meat was 1.37 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.37 million
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
45th
of 198 countries
All-time high
1.44 million
in 2023
All-time low
129,700
in 1964
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Animals slaughtered for meat in Zambia, 1961–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, animals slaughtered for meat in Zambia stood at 1.37 million.
That represents a change of down 4.5% on the previous year and up 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, animals slaughtered for meat in Zambia peaked at 1.44 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 129,700, in 1964.
Zambia ranks 45th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Animals slaughtered for meat in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 132,000 | — |
| 1962 | 131,000 | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 130,000 | -0.8% |
| 1964 | 129,700 | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 142,200 | +9.6% |
| 1966 | 143,000 | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 134,000 | -6.3% |
| 1968 | 140,000 | +4.5% |
| 1969 | 139,000 | -0.7% |
| 1970 | 153,000 | +10.1% |
| 1971 | 147,000 | -3.9% |
| 1972 | 149,000 | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 153,500 | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 155,000 | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 161,500 | +4.2% |
| 1976 | 166,700 | +3.2% |
| 1977 | 173,200 | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 176,500 | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 183,800 | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 181,000 | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 192,400 | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 203,800 | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 187,000 | -8.2% |
| 1984 | 177,230 | -5.2% |
| 1985 | 197,600 | +11.5% |
| 1986 | 201,600 | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 208,100 | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 211,000 | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 214,000 | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 345,000 | +61.2% |
| 1991 | 360,000 | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 360,000 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 335,000 | -6.9% |
| 1994 | 315,000 | -6.0% |
| 1995 | 290,000 | -7.9% |
| 1996 | 265,000 | -8.6% |
| 1997 | 325,000 | +22.6% |
| 1998 | 350,000 | +7.7% |
| 1999 | 370,000 | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 330,000 | -10.8% |
| 2001 | 340,000 | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 370,000 | +8.8% |
| 2003 | 370,000 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 350,000 | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 370,000 | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 360,000 | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 365,000 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 490,000 | +34.2% |
| 2009 | 760,000 | +55.1% |
| 2010 | 960,000 | +26.3% |
| 2011 | 962,312 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 1.01 million | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 1.24 million | +23.0% |
| 2014 | 1.30 million | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 1.00 million | -23.1% |
| 2016 | 990,000 | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 1.30 million | +31.3% |
| 2018 | 1.13 million | -13.2% |
| 2019 | 1.16 million | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 1.10 million | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 1.16 million | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 1.12 million | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 1.44 million | +28.6% |
| 2024 | 1.37 million | -4.5% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.37 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 424,850, 3.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1.37 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 250,645, 5.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Animals slaughtered for meat in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +61.2% | 214,000 | 345,000 |
| 2009 | +55.1% | 490,000 | 760,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 135,656 | 129,700 | 143,000 | 9 |
| 1970s | 161,920 | 147,000 | 183,800 | 10 |
| 1980s | 197,373 | 177,230 | 214,000 | 10 |
| 1990s | 331,500 | 265,000 | 370,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 410,500 | 330,000 | 760,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.10 million | 960,000 | 1.30 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.24 million | 1.10 million | 1.44 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More agriculture & rural data for Zambia
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1752 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0008 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 1.09 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 65.37 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0411 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 54.11 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.97 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is animals slaughtered for meat in Zambia?
- Animals slaughtered for meat in Zambia was 1.37 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest animals slaughtered for meat recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.44 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest animals slaughtered for meat recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 129,700 in 1964.
- How does Zambia rank for animals slaughtered for meat?
- Zambia ranks 45th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is animals slaughtered for meat rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Animals slaughtered for meat. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).