Population by age group in Zambia
Zambia: Population by age group was 20.72 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
20.72 million people
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
63rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
20.72 million people
in 2023
All-time low
2.32 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population by age group in Zambia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by age group in Zambia is 20.72 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in Zambia peaked at 20.72 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.32 million people, in 1950.
That places Zambia 63rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population by age group in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.32 million people | — |
| 1951 | 2.39 million people | +3.1% |
| 1952 | 2.47 million people | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 2.54 million people | +3.1% |
| 1954 | 2.62 million people | +3.1% |
| 1955 | 2.70 million people | +3.1% |
| 1956 | 2.79 million people | +3.1% |
| 1957 | 2.87 million people | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 2.96 million people | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 3.06 million people | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 3.15 million people | +3.2% |
| 1961 | 3.25 million people | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 3.36 million people | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 3.47 million people | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 3.58 million people | +3.2% |
| 1965 | 3.69 million people | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 3.81 million people | +3.2% |
| 1967 | 3.94 million people | +3.3% |
| 1968 | 4.07 million people | +3.3% |
| 1969 | 4.20 million people | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 4.32 million people | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 4.44 million people | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 4.57 million people | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 4.70 million people | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 4.84 million people | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 4.99 million people | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 5.14 million people | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 5.30 million people | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 5.47 million people | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 5.63 million people | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 5.80 million people | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 5.98 million people | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 6.18 million people | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 6.38 million people | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 6.58 million people | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 6.78 million people | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 6.99 million people | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 7.19 million people | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 7.39 million people | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 7.59 million people | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 7.79 million people | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 7.98 million people | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 8.18 million people | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 8.37 million people | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 8.58 million people | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 8.79 million people | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 9.00 million people | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 9.24 million people | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 9.48 million people | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 9.74 million people | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 10.02 million people | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 10.33 million people | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 10.65 million people | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 10.98 million people | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 11.34 million people | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 11.72 million people | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 12.13 million people | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 12.57 million people | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 13.02 million people | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 13.49 million people | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 13.97 million people | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 14.44 million people | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 14.91 million people | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 15.40 million people | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 15.90 million people | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 16.40 million people | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 16.91 million people | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 17.44 million people | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 17.97 million people | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 18.51 million people | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 19.06 million people | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 19.60 million people | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 20.15 million people | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 20.72 million people | +2.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 20.72 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.20 million people, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 20.72 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.67 million people | 2.32 million people | 3.06 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.65 million people | 3.15 million people | 4.20 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.94 million people | 4.32 million people | 5.63 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.69 million people | 5.80 million people | 7.59 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.71 million people | 7.79 million people | 9.74 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.62 million people | 10.02 million people | 13.49 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.19 million people | 13.97 million people | 18.51 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.88 million people | 19.06 million people | 20.72 million 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 population by age group in Zambia?
- Population by age group in Zambia was 20.72 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by age group recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.72 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.32 million people in 1950.
- How does Zambia rank for population by age group?
- Zambia ranks 63rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population by age group rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.6%. 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 Population by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.