Zambia participated for the first time at the Olympic Games under the current name in 1968, and has since taken part in every Summer Olympic Games with the exception of 1976.

Zambia has never sent athletes to compete in the Winter Olympic Games.

[1] Zambian athletes have won three medals in three sports.

Boxer Keith Mwila won the country's first Olympic medal, a bronze, in the light flyweight category at the 1984 Summer Olympics, and twelve years later, Samuel Matete secured the silver medal in the men's 400 metres hurdles.

[1] The third medal was a bronze won by Muzala Samukonga in the men's 400 metres sprint at the 2024 Summer Olympics.