Moving to Zambia from Washington

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Washington to Zambia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Washington to Zambia. 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 Olympia, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Washington to Zambia.

Living there in 2020
1,169 ↑ 40% vs 2015

people born in United States 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

The numbers behind daily life in Zambia compared to Washington.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

WA
31.1%
ZM
8.1%

Zambia performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

WA
93.1%
ZM
21.0%

Washington performs better than Zambia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

WA
5.3%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

WA
$87,768
ZM
$3,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

WA
79.2 yrs
ZM
66.3 yrs

Washington performs better than Zambia across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Olympia Rain: 50.0 in/yr (1270 mm)
60° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Olympia Lusaka
Jan–Mar 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Olympia Lusaka
Jan 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 44°/33°F (6.8°/0.3°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Zambia without a visa.
Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Zambia passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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?

From major Zambia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Washington and Zambia are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Washington?

Zambia performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

Both Washington and Zambia share the same official language: English.

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At a Glance

ZM
Population 6,724,540 19,642,123
Currency United States Dollar ($) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages English English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +260
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911