Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Zambia
Zambia: Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence was 4.04 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
4.04 births per woman
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
25th
of 215 countries
All-time high
7.42 births per woman
in 1975
All-time low
4.04 births per woman
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Zambia, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
In 2024, total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Zambia stood at 4.04 births per woman. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Zambia peaked at 7.42 births per woman in 1975 and was at its lowest, 4.04 births per woman, in 2024.
That places Zambia 25th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Zambia, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.95 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 6.98 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1962 | 7.01 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 7.06 births per woman | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 7.08 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 7.12 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 7.14 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 7.15 births per woman | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 7.18 births per woman | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 7.18 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 7.22 births per woman | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 7.26 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 7.3 births per woman | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 7.34 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 7.36 births per woman | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 7.42 births per woman | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 7.39 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 7.35 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 7.29 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 7.22 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 7.14 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 7.07 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 7.04 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 7.01 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 6.97 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 6.93 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 6.87 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 6.8 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 6.7 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 6.63 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 6.57 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 6.46 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 6.35 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 6.3 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 6.26 births per woman | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 6.23 births per woman | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 6.18 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 6.12 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 6.07 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 6 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 5.92 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 5.85 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 5.77 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 5.71 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 5.7 births per woman | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 5.7 births per woman | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 5.68 births per woman | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 5.61 births per woman | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 5.53 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 5.45 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 5.36 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 5.26 births per woman | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 5.14 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 5.01 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 4.89 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 4.78 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 4.67 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 4.57 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 4.49 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 4.42 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 4.32 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 4.25 births per woman | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 4.17 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 4.1 births per woman | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 4.04 births per woman | -1.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 4.04 births per woman is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.12 births per woman, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 4.04 births per woman is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.91 births per woman, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.09 births per woman | 6.95 births per woman | 7.18 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.32 births per woman | 7.22 births per woman | 7.42 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.92 births per woman | 6.63 births per woman | 7.14 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.25 births per woman | 6 births per woman | 6.57 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.69 births per woman | 5.45 births per woman | 5.92 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.86 births per woman | 4.42 births per woman | 5.36 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.18 births per woman | 4.04 births per woman | 4.32 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 22 Equatorial Guinea 4.12 births per woman compare
- 23 Burkina Faso 4.11 births per woman compare
- 24 Congo 4.11 births per woman compare
- 26 Madagascar 3.91 births per woman compare
- 27 Ethiopia 3.91 births per woman compare
- 28 Gambia 3.91 births per woman compare
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 total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Zambia?
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence in Zambia was 4.04 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.42 births per woman in 1975.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.04 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence?
- Zambia ranks 25th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. Contraceptive prevalence is the percentage of women who are practicing, or whose sexual partners are practicing, any form of contraception.