Share of the population living in cities in Zambia

Zambia: Share of the population living in cities was 36.91 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
36.91
World rank
114th
of 229 countries
All-time high
36.91
in 2020
All-time low
0
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of the population living in cities in Zambia, 1950–2020

0102030401950198520201950: 01955: 01960: 4.21965: 6.41970: 8.91975: 9.51980: 15.11985: 19.91990: 24.91995: 27.12000: 27.22005: 312010: 33.62015: 35.12020: 36.9

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2020, share of the population living in cities in Zambia stood at 36.91. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of the population living in cities in Zambia peaked at 36.91 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1950.

That places Zambia 114th out of 229 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of the population living in cities in Zambia, year by year

Annual values for Share of the population living in cities in Zambia, 1950 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1950 0
1955 0
1960 4.22
1965 6.42 +52.1%
1970 8.91 +38.8%
1975 9.52 +6.8%
1980 15.13 +58.9%
1985 19.86 +31.3%
1990 24.9 +25.4%
1995 27.11 +8.9%
2000 27.22 +0.4%
2005 30.99 +13.9%
2010 33.63 +8.5%
2015 35.08 +4.3%
2020 36.91 +5.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 0 0 0 2
1960s 5.32 4.22 6.42 2
1970s 9.21 8.91 9.52 2
1980s 17.5 15.13 19.86 2
1990s 26.01 24.9 27.11 2
2000s 29.1 27.22 30.99 2
2010s 34.36 33.63 35.08 2
2020s 36.91 36.91 36.91 1

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 111 Myanmar 38.08 compare
  2. 112 Haiti 37.84 compare
  3. 113 Mauritania 37.71 compare
  4. 115 Guinea-Bissau 35.86 compare
  5. 116 Portugal 35.59 compare
  6. 117 Paraguay 35.41 compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of the population living in cities in Zambia?
Share of the population living in cities in Zambia was 36.91 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of the population living in cities recorded in Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 36.91 in 2020.
What is the lowest share of the population living in cities recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1950.
How does Zambia rank for share of the population living in cities?
Zambia ranks 114th out of 229 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of the population living in cities rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Zambia data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population living in cities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of the population living in cities in Zambia. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-the-population-living-in-cities/zambia/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population living in cities
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 3,540 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed