Annual change in population in Zambia
Zambia: Annual change in population was 571,032 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
571,032 people
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
37th
of 236 countries
All-time high
571,032 people
in 2023
All-time low
71,996 people
in 1951
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Zambia, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in population in Zambia is 571,032 people, 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 change in population in Zambia peaked at 571,032 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 71,996 people, 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 change in population in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 71,996 people | — |
| 1952 | 73,957 people | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 76,283 people | +3.1% |
| 1954 | 78,730 people | +3.2% |
| 1955 | 81,273 people | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 83,867 people | +3.2% |
| 1957 | 86,658 people | +3.3% |
| 1958 | 89,798 people | +3.6% |
| 1959 | 93,184 people | +3.8% |
| 1960 | 96,674 people | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 100,355 people | +3.8% |
| 1962 | 104,013 people | +3.6% |
| 1963 | 107,816 people | +3.7% |
| 1964 | 111,101 people | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 115,073 people | +3.6% |
| 1966 | 119,915 people | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 124,347 people | +3.7% |
| 1968 | 129,251 people | +3.9% |
| 1969 | 131,516 people | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 124,609 people | -5.3% |
| 1971 | 120,802 people | -3.1% |
| 1972 | 126,783 people | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 133,383 people | +5.2% |
| 1974 | 140,056 people | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 147,337 people | +5.2% |
| 1976 | 153,760 people | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 158,630 people | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 162,902 people | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 166,355 people | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 171,107 people | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 180,458 people | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 195,339 people | +8.2% |
| 1983 | 202,407 people | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 199,452 people | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 200,456 people | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 205,522 people | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 204,810 people | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 200,165 people | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 197,776 people | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 196,937 people | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 195,490 people | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 195,024 people | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 197,243 people | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 202,350 people | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 209,498 people | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 218,291 people | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 233,005 people | +6.7% |
| 1998 | 245,350 people | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 257,599 people | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 277,620 people | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 307,553 people | +10.8% |
| 2002 | 322,769 people | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 335,649 people | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 354,597 people | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 380,618 people | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 410,741 people | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 435,533 people | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 456,234 people | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 469,068 people | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 475,197 people | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 472,204 people | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 475,835 people | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 485,369 people | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 496,320 people | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 503,772 people | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 515,336 people | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 526,900 people | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 532,246 people | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 540,265 people | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 545,555 people | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 544,216 people | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 549,325 people | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 571,032 people | +4.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 571,032 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 167,005 people, 3.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 571,032 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 359,940 people, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 81,750 people | 71,996 people | 93,184 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 114,006 people | 96,674 people | 131,516 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 143,462 people | 120,802 people | 166,355 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 195,749 people | 171,107 people | 205,522 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 215,079 people | 195,024 people | 257,599 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 375,038 people | 277,620 people | 469,068 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 502,344 people | 472,204 people | 540,265 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 552,532 people | 544,216 people | 571,032 people | 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)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 86.73 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.60 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Zambia?
- Annual change in population in Zambia was 571,032 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 571,032 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 71,996 people in 1951.
- How does Zambia rank for annual change in population?
- Zambia ranks 37th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.