Zambia Population (LIVE)

retrieving data...
Zambia Population (1950 - 2024)
Yearly Population Growth Rate (%)
  • The current population of Zambia is 21,549,610 as of Saturday, November 23, 2024, based on Worldometer's elaboration of the latest United Nations data1.
  • Zambia 2024 population is estimated at 21,314,956 people at mid year.
  • Zambia population is equivalent to 0.26% of the total world population.
  • Zambia ranks number 63 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
  • The population density in Zambia is 29 per Km2 (74 people per mi2).
  • The total land area is 743,390 Km2 (287,024 sq. miles).
  • 46.2 % of the population is urban (9,843,878 people in 2024).
  • The median age in Zambia is 17.7 years.
1. U.N. Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs - Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

Population of Zambia (2024 and historical)

YearPopulationYearly %
Change
Yearly
Change
Migrants (net)Median AgeFertility RateDensity (P/Km²)Urban
Pop %
Urban PopulationCountry's Share of
World Pop
World PopulationZambia
Global Rank
2024 21,314,956 2.85 % 590,991 7,381 17.7 4.04 29 46.2 % 9,843,878 0.26 % 8,161,972,572 63
2023 20,723,965 2.83 % 571,027 9,521 17.5 4.10 28 45.6 % 9,445,888 0.26 % 8,091,734,930 63
2022 20,152,938 2.80 % 549,331 -8,566 17.3 4.18 27 45.0 % 9,062,291 0.25 % 8,021,407,192 63
2020 19,059,395 2.95 % 545,556 8,156 16.9 4.32 26 43.7 % 8,336,381 0.24 % 7,887,001,292 66
2015 16,399,089 3.26 % 486,699 16,261 16.1 4.78 22 41.1 % 6,747,236 0.22 % 7,470,491,872 67
2010 13,965,594 3.57 % 449,355 22,761 15.6 5.36 19 39.0 % 5,450,667 0.20 % 7,021,732,148 70
2005 11,718,819 3.19 % 340,238 35,316 15.2 5.70 16 38.0 % 4,448,559 0.18 % 6,586,970,132 71
2000 10,017,631 2.66 % 246,374-4,338 14.8 5.92 13 36.6 % 3,665,128 0.16 % 6,171,702,993 77
1995 8,785,763 2.45 % 199,919 -45,423 14.7 6.23 12 38.6 % 3,390,243 0.15 % 5,758,878,982 81
1990 7,786,169 2.80 % 201,043 -38,619 14.6 6.57 10 40.6 % 3,163,284 0.15 % 5,327,803,110 81
1985 6,780,953 3.16 % 195,624 -18,474 14.4 6.93 9 40.7 % 2,758,109 0.14 % 4,868,943,465 83
1980 5,802,833 3.06 % 162,549 -24,664 14.2 7.14 8 40.4 % 2,344,812 0.13 % 4,447,606,236 86
1975 4,990,086 2.92 % 133,674 -30,886 14.5 7.42 7 34.8 % 1,734,432 0.12 % 4,070,735,277 89
1970 4,321,718 3.20 % 125,926 -31,370 15.2 7.22 6 29.3 % 1,266,841 0.12 % 3,694,683,794 93
1965 3,692,086 3.20 % 107,671 -5,023 15.5 7.12 5 22.6 % 832,850 0.11 % 3,334,533,703 100
1960 3,153,729 3.13 % 90,037 -3,898 15.9 6.95 4 17.5 % 552,492 0.10 % 3,015,470,894 96
1955 2,703,543 3.10 % 76,448 -2,345 16.2 6.80 4 14.1 % 382,236 0.10 % 2,740,213,792 100
Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)
Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).
back to top ↑

Zambia Population Forecast

YearPopulationYearly %
Change
Yearly
Change
Migrants (net)Median AgeFertility RateDensity (P/Km²)Urban
Pop %
Urban PopulationCountry's Share of
World Pop
World PopulationZambia
Global Rank
2025 21,913,874 2.83 % 570,896 6,562 17.9 3.97 29 46.8 % 10,256,668 0.27 % 8,231,613,070 63
2030 25,024,901 2.69 % 622,205 2,795 19.1 3.67 34 50.1 % 12,548,518 0.29 % 8,569,124,911 61
2035 28,266,892 2.47 % 648,398 -1,794 20.3 3.40 38 53.8 % 15,219,971 0.32 % 8,885,210,181 59
2040 31,550,402 2.22 % 656,702 -9,164 21.3 3.15 42 57.9 % 18,271,801 0.34 % 9,177,190,203 57
2045 34,821,106 1.99 % 654,141 -13,308 22.5 2.96 47 62.4 % 21,722,143 0.37 % 9,439,639,668 55
2050 38,083,385 1.81 % 652,456   23.6 2.81 51 67.2 % 25,576,780 0.39 % 9,664,378,587 53
Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info)
Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium-fertility variant).

Zambia Demographics

Main Page: Demographics of Zambia
Life Expectancy
66.53 years
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes)
View by sex and historical chart
Infant Mortality
37.4
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
View historical chart
Deaths under age 5
50.8
(per 1,000 live births)
View historical chart

Main Cities by Population in Zambia

(includes boroughs, districts, urban agglomerations, etc.)

# CITY NAME POPULATION
1 Lusaka 1,267,440
2 Ndola 451,246
3 Kitwe 400,914
4 Chipata 327,059
5 Kabwe 188,979
6 Chingola 148,564
7 Mufulira 120,500
8 Luanshya 113,365
9 Livingstone 109,203
10 Kasama 91,056
11 Kalulushi 66,575
12 Mazabuka 64,006
13 Chililabombwe 57,328
14 Mongu 52,534
15 Kafue 47,554
16 Choma 46,746
17 Mansa 42,277
18 Kansanshi 40,705
19 Kapiri Mposhi 37,942
20 Monze 30,257
21 Mpika 28,445
22 Nchelenge 23,693
23 Kawambwa 20,589
24 Mbala 20,570
25 Samfya 20,470
26 Sesheke 20,149
27 Petauke 19,296
28 Mumbwa 19,086
29 Siavonga 18,638
30 Kalomo 15,394

See also

Notes

The Zambia Population (Live) counter shows a continuously updated estimate of the current population of Zambia delivered by Worldometer's RTS algorithm, which processes data collected from the United Nations Population Division.

The Population of Zambia (1950 - 2023) chart plots the total population count as of July 1 of each year, from 1950 to 2023.

The Yearly Population Growth Rate chart plots the annual percentage changes in population registered on July 1 of each year, from 1951 to 2023. This value can differ from the Yearly % Change shown in the historical table, which shows the last year equivalent percentage change assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period.

Definitions

Year: as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Population: Overall total population (both sexes and all ages) in the country as of July 1 of the year indicated, as estimated by the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. For forecasted years, the U.N. medium-fertility variant is used.


Yearly % Change: For 2023: percentage change in total population over the last year (from July 1, 2022 to June 30 2023). For all other years: latest year annual percentage change equivalent assuming homogeneous change in the preceding five year period, calculated through reverse compounding.

Yearly Change: For 2023: absolute change in total population (increase or decrease in number of people) over the last year (from July 1, 2022 to June 30 2023). For all other years: average annual numerical change over the preceding five year period.

Migrants (net): The average annual number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants over the preceding five year period (running from July 1 to June 30 of the initial and final years), or subsequent five year period (for 2016 data). A negative number means that there are more emigrants than immigrants.

Median Age: age that divides the population into two numerically equal groups: half of the people are older than the median age indicated and half are younger. This parameter provides an indication of age distribution.

Fertility Rate: (Total Fertility Rate, or TFR), it is expressed as children per woman. It is calculated as the average number of children an average woman will have during her reproductive period (15 to 49 years old) based on the current fertility rates of every age group in the country, and assuming she is not subject to mortality.

Density (P/Km²): (Population Density) Population per square Kilometer (Km²).

Urban Pop % : Urban population as a percentage of total population.

Urban Population: Population living in areas classified as urban according to the criteria used by each country.

Country's Share of World Pop: Total population in the country as a percentage of total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

World Population: Total World Population as of July 1 of the year indicated.

Global Rank: Position held by Zambia in the list of all countries worldwide ranked by population (from the highest population to the lowest population) as of July 1 of the year indicated.