Moving to Zambia from Ireland

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ireland to Zambia. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lusaka averages 80°F vs 56°F in Dublin, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IE
0.9
ZM
5.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IE
2.8
ZM
17.1

Ireland 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

IE
$8,772
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IE
40.6
ZM
2.6

Ireland 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

IE
13.0
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IE
6.0t
ZM
0.5t

Ireland 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

IE
32.1
ZM
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IE
22.2%
ZM
2.8%

Ireland 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

IE
4.3%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IE
$115,600
ZM
$3,700

Ireland generally does better on employment & economy, though Zambia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IE
81.7 yrs
ZM
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IE
3.5
ZM
37.1

Ireland generally does better on family life, though Zambia leads in education spending.

Data: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Dublin Rain: 29.8 in/yr (758 mm)
56° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Dublin Lusaka
Jan–Mar 49°/37°F (10°/3°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/44°F (15°/7°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 66°/52°F (19°/11°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/41°F (11°/5°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Dublin Lusaka
Jan 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.4°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 47°/36°F (8.3°/2.3°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 54°/38°F (12.1°/3.4°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 54°/40°F (12.1°/4.6°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 59°/44°F (14.8°/6.9°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 64°/49°F (17.6°/9.6°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 67°/53°F (19.5°/11.7°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 67°/53°F (19.2°/11.5°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 63°/50°F (17.0°/9.8°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 56°/45°F (13.6°/7.3°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 51°/40°F (10.3°/4.5°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 47°/37°F (8.3°/2.8°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service Met Éireann, The Irish Meteorological Service, Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ireland 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.

Ireland passport

Ireland passport holder visiting Zambia

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

Zambia passport holder visiting Ireland

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

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?

Ireland performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Ireland.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Ireland?

Ireland 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 40.6 in Ireland. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ireland: 83).

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

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 56°F in Dublin. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Dublin gets 29.8 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

The official language in Zambia is English. In Ireland, the official languages are English and Irish.

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At a Glance

IE ZM
Population 5,275,004 19,642,123
Currency Euro (€) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages English, Irish English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +353 +260
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112