Moving to Zambia from Russia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Russia 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 48°F in Moscow, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RU
6.8
ZM
5.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RU
10.6
ZM
17.1

Russia generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RU
$3,204
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

RU
38.3
ZM
2.6

Russia 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

RU
39.0
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RU
14.0t
ZM
0.5t

Russia 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

RU
24.8
ZM
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RU
4.1%
ZM
2.8%

Russia 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

RU
3.3%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RU
$39,800
ZM
$3,700

Russia performs better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RU
72.4 yrs
ZM
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RU
6.4
ZM
37.1

Russia performs better than Zambia across all family life metrics.

Data: Federal Tax Service of Russia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Moscow Rain: 27.2 in/yr (691 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Moscow Lusaka
Jan–Mar 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Moscow Lusaka
Jan 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Russia 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.

Russia passport

Russia passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa on Arrival
Russia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Zambia.
Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Russia

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

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?

Russia generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.8 in Russia.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Russia?

Russia 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 38.3 in Russia. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Russia: 79).

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

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 48°F in Moscow. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Moscow gets 27.2 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

The official language in Zambia is English. In Russia, the official language is Russian.

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At a Glance

RU ZM
Population 142,021,981 19,642,123
Currency Russian Ruble (RUB) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages Russian English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +7 +260
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 112