Annual population growth in Zambia
Zambia: Annual population growth was 571,032 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
571,032
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
37th
of 236 countries
All-time high
571,032
in 2023
All-time low
71,996
in 1951
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Zambia, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual population growth in Zambia is 571,032, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 73 years on record.
The figure is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in Zambia peaked at 571,032 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 71,996, in 1951.
Zambia ranks 37th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual population growth in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 71,996 | — |
| 1952 | 73,957 | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 76,283 | +3.1% |
| 1954 | 78,730 | +3.2% |
| 1955 | 81,273 | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 83,867 | +3.2% |
| 1957 | 86,658 | +3.3% |
| 1958 | 89,798 | +3.6% |
| 1959 | 93,184 | +3.8% |
| 1960 | 96,674 | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 100,355 | +3.8% |
| 1962 | 104,013 | +3.6% |
| 1963 | 107,816 | +3.7% |
| 1964 | 111,101 | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 115,073 | +3.6% |
| 1966 | 119,915 | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 124,347 | +3.7% |
| 1968 | 129,251 | +3.9% |
| 1969 | 131,516 | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 124,609 | -5.3% |
| 1971 | 120,802 | -3.1% |
| 1972 | 126,783 | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 133,383 | +5.2% |
| 1974 | 140,056 | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 147,337 | +5.2% |
| 1976 | 153,760 | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 158,630 | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 162,902 | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 166,355 | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 171,107 | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 180,458 | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 195,339 | +8.2% |
| 1983 | 202,407 | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 199,452 | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 200,456 | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 205,522 | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 204,810 | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 200,165 | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 197,776 | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 196,937 | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 195,490 | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 195,024 | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 197,243 | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 202,350 | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 209,498 | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 218,291 | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 233,005 | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 245,350 | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 257,599 | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 277,620 | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 307,553 | +10.8% |
| 2002 | 322,769 | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 335,649 | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 354,597 | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 380,618 | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 410,741 | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 435,533 | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 456,234 | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 469,068 | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 475,197 | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 472,204 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 475,835 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 485,369 | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 496,320 | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 503,772 | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 515,336 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 526,900 | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 532,246 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 540,265 | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 545,555 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 544,216 | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 549,325 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 571,032 | +4.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 571,032 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 167,005, 3.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 571,032 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359,940, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 81,750 | 71,996 | 93,184 | 9 |
| 1960s | 114,006 | 96,674 | 131,516 | 10 |
| 1970s | 143,462 | 120,802 | 166,355 | 10 |
| 1980s | 195,749 | 171,107 | 205,522 | 10 |
| 1990s | 215,079 | 195,024 | 257,599 | 10 |
| 2000s | 375,038 | 277,620 | 469,068 | 10 |
| 2010s | 502,344 | 472,204 | 540,265 | 10 |
| 2020s | 552,532 | 544,216 | 571,032 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More population data for Zambia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.2495 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5112 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,460 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.52 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2967 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.516 (2100)
- Population density 86.73 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 4.60 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Zambia?
- Annual population growth in Zambia was 571,032 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 571,032 in 2023.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 71,996 in 1951.
- How does Zambia rank for annual population growth?
- Zambia ranks 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).