Moving to Zambia from Mali

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Mali 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 95°F in Bamako, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
267 ↑ 40% vs 2015

people born in Mali 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 Mali to Zambia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ML
20.2
ZM
17.1

Zambia performs significantly better than Mali across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ML
$104
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ML
1.9
ZM
2.6

Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mali 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

ML
65.0
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ML
0.3t
ZM
0.5t

Mali generally does better on environment, though Zambia leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ML
0.8
ZM
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ML
8.0%
ZM
2.8%

Mali 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

ML
3.0%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ML
$2,500
ZM
$3,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ML
62.4 yrs
ZM
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ML
60.6
ZM
37.1

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

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bamako Rain: 39.0 in/yr (991 mm)
95° / 70°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bamako Lusaka
Jan–Mar 97°/68°F (36°/20°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 100°/76°F (38°/25°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/66°F (34°/19°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Bamako Lusaka
Jan 92°/63°F (33.4°/17.0°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 98°/68°F (36.4°/19.9°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 101°/73°F (38.5°/22.9°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 103°/77°F (39.6°/25.2°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 101°/78°F (38.5°/25.4°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 96°/74°F (35.3°/23.6°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 90°/72°F (32.1°/22.2°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 88°/71°F (31.1°/21.8°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 90°/71°F (32.2°/21.6°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 94°/70°F (34.6°/21.3°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 96°/65°F (35.3°/18.4°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 92°/62°F (33.4°/16.8°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Mali (MALI-METEO) Agence Nationale de la Météorologie du Mali (MALI-METEO), Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Mali 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.

Mali passport

Mali passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Mali passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Zambia.
Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Mali

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

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?

Zambia performs significantly better than Mali across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Mali?

Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mali leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 1.9 in Mali. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Mali: 41).

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

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 95°F in Bamako. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Bamako gets 39.0 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

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

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At a Glance

ML ZM
Population 20,741,769 19,642,123
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages French English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +223 +260
Time zones 1 1