Moving to Zambia from France

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from France to Zambia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from France to Zambia, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lusaka averages 80°F vs 60°F in Paris, making it significantly warmer.

Get free moving quotes to Zambia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from France to Zambia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
84 ↑ 38% vs 2015

people born in France live in Zambia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Zambia?

Top countries of origin for Zambia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from France to Zambia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
ZM
5.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
ZM
17.1

France performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
ZM
2.6

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FR
10.0
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
ZM
0.5t

France generally does better on environment, though Zambia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
49.4
ZM
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
ZM
2.8%

France generally does better on infrastructure, though Zambia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.3%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
ZM
$3,700

Zambia generally does better on employment & economy, though France leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FR
82.6 yrs
ZM
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
ZM
37.1

France performs better than Zambia across all family life metrics.

Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Lusaka
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Paris Lusaka
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France and Zambia. To live, work, or study long-term in Zambia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zambia's immigration authority.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
France passport holders can enter Zambia without a visa.
Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting France

Visa Required
Zambia passport holders need a visa to enter France.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Zambia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Zambia has 0.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Zambia safe for expats?

France performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to France?

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 33.4 in France. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

What's the weather like in Zambia compared to France?

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

The official language in Zambia is English. In France, the official language is French.

Share this

At a Glance

FR ZM
Population 68,305,148 19,642,123
Currency Euro (€) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages French English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +33 +260
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112