Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Zambia
Zambia: Total population (thousands), annual growth rate was 2.83 % change on previous year in 2025. ▲ Rising
Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Zambia, 1971–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Zambia stood at 2.83 % change on previous year.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Zambia peaked at 3.68 % change on previous year in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.39 % change on previous year, in 1994.
Zambia ranks 19th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.77 % change on previous year | — |
| 1972 | 2.82 % change on previous year | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 2.89 % change on previous year | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 2.95 % change on previous year | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 3 % change on previous year | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 3.08 % change on previous year | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 3.08 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 3.09 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 3.06 % change on previous year | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 3.03 % change on previous year | -1.0% |
| 1981 | 3.05 % change on previous year | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 3.17 % change on previous year | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 3.36 % change on previous year | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 3.2 % change on previous year | -4.7% |
| 1985 | 3.06 % change on previous year | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 3.04 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 3.02 % change on previous year | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 2.84 % change on previous year | -6.1% |
| 1989 | 2.73 % change on previous year | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 2.63 % change on previous year | -3.7% |
| 1991 | 2.57 % change on previous year | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 2.46 % change on previous year | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 2.43 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 2.39 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 2.44 % change on previous year | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 2.45 % change on previous year | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 2.52 % change on previous year | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 2.65 % change on previous year | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 2.66 % change on previous year | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 2.77 % change on previous year | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 2.93 % change on previous year | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 3.21 % change on previous year | +9.7% |
| 2003 | 3.04 % change on previous year | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 3.26 % change on previous year | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 3.2 % change on previous year | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 3.51 % change on previous year | +9.6% |
| 2007 | 3.5 % change on previous year | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 3.68 % change on previous year | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 3.59 % change on previous year | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 3.62 % change on previous year | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 3.43 % change on previous year | -5.1% |
| 2012 | 3.33 % change on previous year | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 3.26 % change on previous year | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 3.25 % change on previous year | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 3.2 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 3.14 % change on previous year | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 3.14 % change on previous year | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.09 % change on previous year | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 3.02 % change on previous year | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 3 % change on previous year | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 2.9 % change on previous year | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 2.81 % change on previous year | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 2.79 % change on previous year | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 2.87 % change on previous year | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 2.83 % change on previous year | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.97 % change on previous year | 2.77 % change on previous year | 3.09 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.05 % change on previous year | 2.73 % change on previous year | 3.36 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.52 % change on previous year | 2.39 % change on previous year | 2.66 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.27 % change on previous year | 2.77 % change on previous year | 3.68 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.25 % change on previous year | 3.02 % change on previous year | 3.62 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.87 % change on previous year | 2.79 % change on previous year | 3 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 16 Tanzania 2.91 % change on previous year compare
- 17 Afghanistan 2.87 % change on previous year compare
- 18 Mauritania 2.86 % change on previous year compare
- 20 Uganda 2.77 % change on previous year compare
- 21 Cameroon 2.62 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Ethiopia 2.62 % change on previous year compare
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 total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Zambia?
- Total population (thousands), annual growth rate in Zambia was 2.83 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest total population (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.68 % change on previous year in 2008.
- What is the lowest total population (thousands), annual growth rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.39 % change on previous year in 1994.
- How does Zambia rank for total population (thousands), annual growth rate?
- Zambia ranks 19th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population (thousands), annual growth rate rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Total population (thousands), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Total population (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Total population UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Total population (thousands). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.