ZAMBIA

This report updates the Anker Living Wage Reference Value for rural Zambia to 2024. The living wage reference value was originally estimated at ZMK 2,483 in 2022. The updated value takes into account the inflation accumulated in the country from June 2022 to June 2024 (26.50%)3 . The value updated to 2024 is ZMK 3,141 (121 USD), and comprises a net living wage of ZMK 2,952 (USD 114) and social security and health insurance deductionsfor ZMK 188 (USD 7). Workers who earn a salary equal to the amount of the living wage are exempt from paying income tax in Zambia4 . Without accounting for inflation, the living income estimated in 2022 would not be sufficient for families to have a basic but decent standard of living in 2024, because the purchasing power of the living income would have decreased. Note that the Living Wage Reference Value in USD is lower in June 2024 compared to June 2023 due to the depreciation of the Zambian Kwacha during this period.