Population growth rate in Zambia
Zambia: Population growth rate was 2.8% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
2.8%
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
20th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.6%
in 2007
All-time low
2.4%
in 1993
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population growth rate in Zambia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth rate in Zambia is 2.8%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth rate in Zambia peaked at 3.6% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1993.
That places Zambia 20th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Population growth rate in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.1% | — |
| 1951 | 3.0% | -0.8% |
| 1952 | 3.0% | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 3.0% | +0.1% |
| 1954 | 3.0% | +0.1% |
| 1955 | 3.1% | +0.1% |
| 1956 | 3.1% | +0.1% |
| 1957 | 3.1% | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 3.1% | +0.6% |
| 1959 | 3.1% | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 3.1% | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 3.1% | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 3.1% | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 3.2% | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 3.1% | -0.9% |
| 1965 | 3.2% | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 3.2% | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 3.2% | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 3.2% | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 3.1% | -3.6% |
| 1970 | 2.7% | -12.6% |
| 1971 | 2.8% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 2.8% | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 3.0% | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 3.0% | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 3.0% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 3.0% | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 3.0% | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 3.1% | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 3.3% | +5.8% |
| 1983 | 3.1% | -4.6% |
| 1984 | 3.0% | -4.4% |
| 1985 | 3.0% | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 3.0% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 2.8% | -6.0% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 2.5% | -2.3% |
| 1991 | 2.4% | -4.1% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 2.9% | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 3.2% | +9.6% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 3.2% | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 3.4% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 3.1% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 3.1% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | +2.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 2.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.7%, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 2.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.3% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 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 growth rate in Zambia?
- Population growth rate in Zambia was 2.8% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population growth rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 2007.
- What is the lowest population growth rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1993.
- How does Zambia rank for population growth rate?
- Zambia ranks 20th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rate rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rate at which the population is growing, expressed as a percentage.