Total population (thousands) in Zambia
Zambia: Total population (thousands) was 21,612 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
21,612 thousands
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
62nd
of 233 countries
All-time high
21,612 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
4,263 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Zambia, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Zambia stood at 21,612 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 33.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Zambia peaked at 21,612 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4,263 thousands, in 1970.
That places Zambia 62nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Zambia, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,263 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 4,381 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 4,504 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 4,634 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 4,771 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 4,914 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 5,066 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 5,222 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 5,383 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 5,548 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 5,716 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 5,890 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 6,077 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 6,281 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 6,481 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 6,680 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 6,882 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 7,091 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 7,292 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 7,491 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 7,688 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 7,885 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 8,079 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 8,275 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 8,473 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 8,680 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 8,892 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 9,116 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 9,358 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 9,607 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 9,873 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 10,162 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 10,488 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 10,808 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 11,160 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 11,517 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 11,921 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 12,338 thousands | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 12,792 thousands | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 13,251 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 13,730 thousands | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 14,201 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 14,674 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 15,153 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 15,645 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 16,145 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 16,653 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 17,176 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 17,706 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 18,241 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 18,787 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 19,332 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 19,876 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 20,430 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 21,018 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 21,612 thousands | +2.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 21,612 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 1.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 21,612 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4,869 thousands | 4,263 thousands | 5,548 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 6,588 thousands | 5,716 thousands | 7,491 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 8,605 thousands | 7,688 thousands | 9,607 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 11,431 thousands | 9,873 thousands | 13,251 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 15,932 thousands | 13,730 thousands | 18,241 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 20,176 thousands | 18,787 thousands | 21,612 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Zambia?
- Total population in Zambia was 21,612 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 21,612 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,263 thousands in 1970.
- How does Zambia rank for total population?
- Zambia ranks 62nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release