Population by age group in Zambia
Zambia: Population by age group was 3.15 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.15 million people
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
46th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.15 million people
in 2023
All-time low
427,153 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 3.15 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in Zambia peaked at 3.15 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 427,153 people, in 1950.
That places Zambia 46th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
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 | 427,153 people | — |
| 1951 | 443,565 people | +3.8% |
| 1952 | 460,395 people | +3.8% |
| 1953 | 479,343 people | +4.1% |
| 1954 | 499,323 people | +4.2% |
| 1955 | 516,681 people | +3.5% |
| 1956 | 532,363 people | +3.0% |
| 1957 | 548,707 people | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 565,832 people | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 583,942 people | +3.2% |
| 1960 | 603,195 people | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 623,599 people | +3.4% |
| 1962 | 644,890 people | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 667,024 people | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 689,672 people | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 712,783 people | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 736,685 people | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 761,475 people | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 787,438 people | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 814,619 people | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 843,129 people | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 872,992 people | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 904,139 people | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 936,400 people | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 969,463 people | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 1.00 million people | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 1.04 million people | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 1.07 million people | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 1.10 million people | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 1.13 million people | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 1.16 million people | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 1.18 million people | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 1.21 million people | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 1.24 million people | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 1.27 million people | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 1.30 million people | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 1.34 million people | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 1.38 million people | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 1.42 million people | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 1.45 million people | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 1.49 million people | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 1.52 million people | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 1.56 million people | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 1.59 million people | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 1.63 million people | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 1.67 million people | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 1.71 million people | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 1.75 million people | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 1.80 million people | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 1.85 million people | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 1.90 million people | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 1.95 million people | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 2.00 million people | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 2.05 million people | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 2.11 million people | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 2.17 million people | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 2.24 million people | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 2.32 million people | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 2.40 million people | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 2.48 million people | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 2.55 million people | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 2.62 million people | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 2.67 million people | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 2.73 million people | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 2.77 million people | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 2.81 million people | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 2.85 million people | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 2.88 million people | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 2.92 million people | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 2.96 million people | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 3.01 million people | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 3.05 million people | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 3.10 million people | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 3.15 million people | +1.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.15 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.25 million people, 2.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.15 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.19 million people, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 505,730 people | 427,153 people | 583,942 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 704,138 people | 603,195 people | 814,619 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 986,791 people | 843,129 people | 1.13 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.29 million people | 1.16 million people | 1.45 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.66 million people | 1.49 million people | 1.85 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.16 million people | 1.90 million people | 2.48 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.78 million people | 2.55 million people | 2.96 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.08 million people | 3.01 million people | 3.15 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More population data for Zambia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5112 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.60 million people (2100)
- Population density 86.73 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2967 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.52 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by age group in Zambia?
- Population by age group in Zambia was 3.15 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 3.15 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 427,153 people in 1950.
- How does Zambia rank for population by age group?
- Zambia ranks 46th 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 15.6%. 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 0-4.