To evaluate the change in protective levels of zinc oxide (ZnO) varistors after the surge absorption, this paper investigated the effects of the number of injection and amplitude of lightning surges on the life of ZnO varistors for low voltages. Leakage currents flowing through ZnO varistors subjected to the $8/20{mu}s$ impulse currents under 60 Hz AC voltages were measured. The surge simulator system ECAT that can generate $8/20{mu}s$ impulse currents with a peak short-circuit of 5 $[kA_p]$ was used. The ZnO varistor leakage current increases with exposure to impulse current, and the number of injection of $8/20{mu}s$ impulse currents to breakdown was inversely proportional to the amplitude of the test current. Behaviors of ZnO varistor leakage currents were strongly dependent on the number of injection and amplitude of $8/20{mu}s$ impulse currents. ZnO varistors degrade gradually when subjected to impulse current, and the resistive leakage current flowing through ZnO varistors subjected to the $8/20{mu}s$ impulse currents under 60 Hz AC voltages was significantly increased after a certain number of injection that is dependent on the amplitude of the test impulse current. As a result, the life of ZnO varistors mainly depends on the amplitude and occurrence frequency of lightning surges.