Context
The chart above shows the evolution of street network disconnectedness of the most connected and most disconnected cities in Zambia, for both new street additions (left) and the aggregate street network (right).
Zambia in context: Street-network sprawl of new development
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Zambia rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Zambia, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Lusaka, Copperbelt and Southern. Out of the three regions, Lusaka and Southern do not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Lusaka followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Southern followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Zambia fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2006-2020, street construction in Zambia was the 89th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Zambia has become more connected. Zambia ranked 64th in 1975, 57th in 1976-1990, 64th in 1991-2005 and 89th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Zambia is Lusaka, with a population of 2362700 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Lusaka as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.15, which is moderately connected. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Lusaka followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
Zambia in context: Aggregate street-network sprawl
As of 2020, the city with the most disconnected street network in Zambia is Chilanga with an SNDi of 4.95, which is very sprawly. Conversely, the most connected city is Mbala with an SNDi of 1.82, which is very well-connected. See these two cities’ trends in the above graph, or dive deeper into each: Mbala, Chilanga.
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Zambia rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Zambia, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Lusaka, Copperbelt and Southern. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Zambia follow the same country trend.
To date, Zambia is the 65th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Zambia has become more connected. Zambia ranked 64th in 1975, 66th in 1976-1990, 66th in 1991-2005 and 65th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Zambia is Lusaka, with a population of 2362700 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Lusaka as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.15, which is moderately connected. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Lusaka rose steadily.