Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Zambia
Zambia: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 426.17 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
426.17 thousands
Change on year
up 5.6%
World rank
118th
of 233 countries
All-time high
426.17 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
127.36 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in Zambia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 426.17 thousands for population aged 65 years or older in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.6% on the previous year and up 52.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in Zambia peaked at 426.17 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 127.36 thousands, in 1970.
Zambia ranks 118th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 127.36 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 132.02 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1972 | 136.83 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 141.79 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 146.92 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 152.19 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1976 | 157.59 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 163.14 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 168.8 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 174.53 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 180.15 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 185.51 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 190.64 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 195.52 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 200.09 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 204.37 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 208.51 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 212.47 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 216.23 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 219.73 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 222.87 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 225.66 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 228.03 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 230.04 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 231.76 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 233.16 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 234.25 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 235.04 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 235.68 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 236.13 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 236.44 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 236.85 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 237.51 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 238.49 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 239.74 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 241.06 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 242.64 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 244.56 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 247 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 250.07 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 253.83 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 258.25 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 263.31 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 268.79 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 273.69 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 280.23 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 289.73 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 300.06 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 311.39 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 323.89 thousands | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 337.8 thousands | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 351.5 thousands | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 364.81 thousands | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 383.31 thousands | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 403.73 thousands | +5.3% |
| 2025 | 426.17 thousands | +5.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 426.17 thousands is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 516.96 thousands, 82% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 426.17 thousands is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 448.46 thousands, 95% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 150.12 thousands | 127.36 thousands | 174.53 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 201.32 thousands | 180.15 thousands | 219.73 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 231.26 thousands | 222.87 thousands | 236.13 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 241.44 thousands | 236.44 thousands | 250.07 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 282.32 thousands | 253.83 thousands | 323.89 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 377.88 thousands | 337.8 thousands | 426.17 thousands | 6 |
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 population aged 65 years or older in Zambia?
- Population aged 65 years or older in Zambia was 426.17 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 426.17 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 127.36 thousands in 1970.
- How does Zambia rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- Zambia ranks 118th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release