Population growth rates in Zambia
Zambia: Population growth rates was 2.83 in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
2.83
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
20th
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.61
in 2007
All-time low
2.37
in 1993
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population growth rates in Zambia, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth rates in Zambia is 2.83, 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 rates in Zambia peaked at 3.61 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2.37, in 1993.
That places Zambia 20th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Population growth rates in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.07 | — |
| 1951 | 3.04 | -0.8% |
| 1952 | 3.04 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 3.05 | +0.1% |
| 1954 | 3.05 | +0.1% |
| 1955 | 3.05 | +0.1% |
| 1956 | 3.06 | +0.1% |
| 1957 | 3.07 | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 3.09 | +0.6% |
| 1959 | 3.1 | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 3.12 | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 3.14 | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 3.15 | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 3.17 | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 3.14 | -0.9% |
| 1965 | 3.19 | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 3.2 | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 3.22 | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 3.24 | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 3.13 | -3.6% |
| 1970 | 2.73 | -12.6% |
| 1971 | 2.78 | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 2.85 | +2.3% |
| 1973 | 2.91 | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 2.96 | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 3.03 | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 3.04 | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 3.04 | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 3.01 | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 2.98 | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 3 | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 3.12 | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 3.3 | +5.8% |
| 1983 | 3.15 | -4.6% |
| 1984 | 3.01 | -4.4% |
| 1985 | 2.99 | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 2.98 | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 2.8 | -6.0% |
| 1988 | 2.69 | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 2.59 | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 2.53 | -2.3% |
| 1991 | 2.43 | -4.1% |
| 1992 | 2.4 | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 2.37 | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 2.41 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 2.42 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 2.49 | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 2.62 | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 2.62 | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 2.73 | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 2.88 | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 3.16 | +9.6% |
| 2002 | 3 | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 3.21 | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 3.15 | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 3.45 | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 3.44 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 3.61 | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 3.52 | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 3.55 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 3.37 | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 3.28 | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 3.21 | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 3.2 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 3.15 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 3.09 | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 3.1 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3.04 | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 2.97 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 2.95 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 2.86 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 2.77 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 2.75 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 2.83 | +2.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 2.83 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.7, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 2.83 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.35, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.06 | 3.04 | 3.1 | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.17 | 3.12 | 3.24 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.93 | 2.73 | 3.04 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.96 | 2.59 | 3.3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5 | 2.37 | 2.73 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.3 | 2.88 | 3.61 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.14 | 2.95 | 3.37 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8 | 2.75 | 2.86 | 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)
- Population growth rate 0.516 (2100)
- Population density 86.73 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 4.60 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth rates in Zambia?
- Population growth rates in Zambia was 2.83 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population growth rates recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.61 in 2007.
- What is the lowest population growth rates recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.37 in 1993.
- How does Zambia rank for population growth rates?
- Zambia ranks 20th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rates 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Population growth rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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