Share of population living in urbanized areas in Zambia
Zambia: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 44.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Zambia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urbanized areas in Zambia stood at 44.7%. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Zambia peaked at 44.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places Zambia 155th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
| 1730s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 1740s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1 |
| 1750s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1760s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1770s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1780s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1790s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1800s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1810s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
| 1820s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1830s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
| 1840s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1850s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1860s | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 1 |
| 1870s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 1 |
| 1880s | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
| 1890s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 1 |
| 1900s | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 1 |
| 1910s | 8.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 1 |
| 1920s | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 1 |
| 1930s | 9.7% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 1 |
| 1940s | 10.6% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 1 |
| 1950s | 14.4% | 11.6% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 23.0% | 18.1% | 29.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 34.4% | 30.1% | 38.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 39.7% | 39.6% | 39.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.0% | 36.2% | 39.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.7% | 35.7% | 35.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.5% | 35.7% | 41.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.3% | 41.8% | 44.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 152 Mozambique 45.7% compare
- 153 Uzbekistan 45.1% compare
- 154 Pakistan 44.8% compare
- 156 Democratic Republic of Congo 44.6% compare
- 157 Guinea 44.6% compare
- 158 Laos 44.4% compare
More population data for Zambia
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.04 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.04 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 79,275 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.04 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 4.1 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 3.82 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Zambia?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Zambia was 44.7% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 44.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Zambia rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Zambia ranks 155th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.