Readiness
26/100Capacity across five enabling pillarsMiddle East & Africa · #32 in region
Zambia
AI Readiness Score
Limited coverageiCoverage describes source availability, not statistical certainty.
- Live
- 0/23
- Years
- Not reported
- Fallback
- 100%
SATURDAY, OCT 31, 20262026 EDITION · 17 INDICATORS
VOL. III · 2026 EDITION
The AI Trajectory IndexMenu
Executive summary
Current standing, trajectory, and source coverage.
Readiness and Adoption
Capacity to build AI compared with evidence of AI use today.
Adoption
26/100Nascent AdoptionTrajectory
+3/10PositiveReadiness vs Adoption: Radar
Blue = readiness capacity · Green = active adoption · Each axis pairs the closest dimension from each framework
| Dimension pair | Readiness | Adoption |
|---|---|---|
| Infra / Gov | 6/20 | 5/20 |
| Talent / Demand | 6/20 | 5/20 |
| Governance / Enterprise | 7/20 | 5/20 |
| Investment / Pipeline | 4/20 | 4/20 |
| Economy / Consumer | 3/20 | 7/20 |
Pillar evidence
Scores, supporting evidence, and the exact inputs behind each contribution.
Infrastructure
MTN Zambia and Airtel Zambia deploying 4G/LTE; 5G beginning in Lusaka
- Zambia connected to SEACOM through Mozambique land link
- Government ZICTA coordinating national broadband expansion
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed broadband subscriptionsFixed broadband subscriptions unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.8 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| Individuals using the internetIndividuals using the internet unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.9 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Mobile subscriptionsMobile subscriptions unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.9 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Access to electricityAccess to electricity unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.9 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Infrastructure quality baselineInfrastructure quality baseline unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 1.5 / 5 pts | Fallback |
Talent
University of Zambia (UNZA) and CBU producing CS and engineering graduates
- Growing Lusaka tech community; BongoHive Zambia incubator supporting startups
- Brain drain to South Africa and UK among educated workforce
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross tertiary enrolmentGross tertiary enrolment unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.8 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| Labour productivityLabour productivity unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.8 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| ResearchersResearchers unavailable; used 2/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD Data Explorer | 0.6 / 2 pts | Fallback |
| Global Innovation IndexGlobal Innovation Index unavailable; used 1/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Intellectual Property Organization | 0.3 / 1 pts | Fallback |
| Talent quality baselineTalent quality baseline unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 1.5 / 5 pts | Fallback |
Governance
Data Protection Act 2021 — one of Southern Africa's more modern frameworks
- Smart Zambia Master Plan with AI and digital government components
- Democratic governance with 2021 political transition improving business environment
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of LawRule of Law unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Worldwide Governance Indicators | 1.8 / 5 pts | Fallback |
| Government EffectivenessGovernment Effectiveness unavailable; used 4/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Worldwide Governance Indicators | 1.4 / 4 pts | Fallback |
| Regulatory QualityRegulatory Quality unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Worldwide Governance Indicators | 1.0 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| National AI strategyNational AI strategy unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD.AI Policy Observatory | 1.0 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| AI strategy recencyAI strategy recency unavailable; used 2/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD.AI Policy Observatory | 0.7 / 2 pts | Fallback |
| AI regulation in forceAI regulation in force unavailable; used 1/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD.AI Policy Observatory | 0.3 / 1 pts | Fallback |
| Government AI readinessGovernment AI readiness unavailable; used 2/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Oxford Insights | 0.7 / 2 pts | Fallback |
Investment
Zambia Digital Innovation Challenge and SBEF supporting early-stage tech
- Copper mining sector (Zambia largest copper producer) beginning AI adoption
- BongoHive and development finance providing limited but growing co-investment
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R&D expenditureR&D expenditure unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD Data Explorer, then World Bank Open Data | 1.2 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| FDI net inflowsFDI net inflows unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.0 / 5 pts | Fallback |
| Government expenditureGovernment expenditure unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | IMF DataMapper | 0.6 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Capital ecosystem baselineCapital ecosystem baseline unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 1.2 / 6 pts | Fallback |
Economic Readiness
20M population; copper and agriculture economy with growing digital services
- Mobile money (MTN MoMo, Airtel Money) providing fintech AI foundation
- Copper sector AI for extraction optimisation and ESG compliance growing
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita, PPPGDP per capita, PPP unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.9 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| Private-sector creditPrivate-sector credit unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.4 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Trade opennessTrade openness unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.4 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Services value addedServices value added unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.4 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Market capacity baselineMarket capacity baseline unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 0.8 / 5 pts | Fallback |
| Government debt modifierGovernment debt modifier unavailable; no score adjustment was applied. | Not available | Not reported | IMF DataMapper | 0.0 / 0 pts | Fallback |
Outlook and policy gaps
Forward direction, constraints, and a structured country brief.
Projected 2028
31/100+5 points from todayTop accelerator
Democratic political transition improving investment climate and copper sector AI opportunityTop risk
Brain drain and limited domestic capital preventing AI ecosystem formation beyond mining sector applicationsFive-section brief
Country research brief
Generate a concise review of standing, infrastructure and talent, governance, investment, and economic outlook.
News and supporting tools
Recent signals, comparable economies, and optional analysis controls.
Live AI News Feed
The Guardian · Google News · Updated hourly
Comparable countries
Nearest neighbours across the five readiness pillars.
Analysis toolsWhat-if model, roadmap, AI Q&A, embed, and print controls
AI Development Roadmap
Algorithmic roadmap based on pillar scores · Updated with live data
◈Foundation Phase
Zambia is in the Foundation Phase
Building core digital and institutional capabilities. Projected score by 2028: 31/100.
2028 Timeline
▶
Now
Score 26
2
2025–26
National AI strategy adopted
3
2026–27
Digital connectivity baseline met
4
2028
First national AI lab established
Priority Actions — 3 Weakest Pillars
⬠Economic Readiness
3/20Near
Expand financial inclusion; target 80% banked population by 2026
Mid
Develop AI-driven export diversification strategy beyond primary commodities
◇Investment & R&D
4/20Near
Launch government-backed AI seed fund (≥$50M) for domestic startups
Mid
Negotiate bilateral R&D agreements with OECD partners; join CERN or equivalent
⬡Digital Infrastructure
6/20Near
Launch national broadband expansion programme; target 50% fixed-line coverage
Mid
Deploy sovereign AI compute infrastructure and edge networks in major cities
Roadmap generated algorithmically from pillar scores and World Bank data. Actions are indicative policy priorities, not official government plans.