Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Zambia
Zambia: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 15.59 million people in 2050. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2050)
15.59 million people
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
34th
of 238 countries
All-time high
15.59 million people
in 2050
All-time low
151,499 people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Zambia, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 15.59 million people for urban and rural population projected to 2050 in 2050. That is the highest value across all 133 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Zambia peaked at 15.59 million people in 2050 and was at its lowest, 151,499 people, in 1000.
Zambia ranks 34th of 238 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 151,499 people | — |
| 1100 | 181,797 people | +20.0% |
| 1200 | 212,090 people | +16.7% |
| 1300 | 242,365 people | +14.3% |
| 1400 | 272,582 people | +12.5% |
| 1500 | 302,608 people | +11.0% |
| 1600 | 327,478 people | +8.2% |
| 1700 | 350,380 people | +7.0% |
| 1710 | 335,854 people | -4.1% |
| 1720 | 341,838 people | +1.8% |
| 1730 | 348,175 people | +1.9% |
| 1740 | 354,904 people | +1.9% |
| 1750 | 362,070 people | +2.0% |
| 1760 | 369,725 people | +2.1% |
| 1770 | 377,932 people | +2.2% |
| 1780 | 386,767 people | +2.3% |
| 1790 | 396,321 people | +2.5% |
| 1800 | 406,705 people | +2.6% |
| 1810 | 418,059 people | +2.8% |
| 1820 | 430,556 people | +3.0% |
| 1830 | 444,422 people | +3.2% |
| 1840 | 459,948 people | +3.5% |
| 1850 | 477,523 people | +3.8% |
| 1860 | 497,681 people | +4.2% |
| 1870 | 521,173 people | +4.7% |
| 1880 | 549,100 people | +5.4% |
| 1890 | 583,155 people | +6.2% |
| 1900 | 626,092 people | +7.4% |
| 1910 | 682,784 people | +9.1% |
| 1920 | 762,879 people | +11.7% |
| 1930 | 889,189 people | +16.6% |
| 1940 | 1.14 million people | +27.7% |
| 1950 | 2.05 million people | +80.9% |
| 1951 | 2.12 million people | +3.0% |
| 1952 | 2.17 million people | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 2.23 million people | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 2.29 million people | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 2.34 million people | +2.4% |
| 1956 | 2.40 million people | +2.3% |
| 1957 | 2.45 million people | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 2.50 million people | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 2.56 million people | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 2.61 million people | +2.1% |
| 1961 | 2.66 million people | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 2.72 million people | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 2.77 million people | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 2.81 million people | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 2.85 million people | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 2.87 million people | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 2.90 million people | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 2.93 million people | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 2.96 million people | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 3.00 million people | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 3.02 million people | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 3.05 million people | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 3.08 million people | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 3.12 million people | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 3.16 million people | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 3.20 million people | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 3.26 million people | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 3.32 million people | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 3.40 million people | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 3.49 million people | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 3.60 million people | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 3.72 million people | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 3.84 million people | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 3.96 million people | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 4.09 million people | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 4.21 million people | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 4.34 million people | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 4.47 million people | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 4.60 million people | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 4.72 million people | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 4.85 million people | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 4.98 million people | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 5.12 million people | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 5.26 million people | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 5.41 million people | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 5.58 million people | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 5.78 million people | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 6.00 million people | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 6.22 million people | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 6.42 million people | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 6.62 million people | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 6.81 million people | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 6.99 million people | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 7.17 million people | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 7.35 million people | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 7.54 million people | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 7.74 million people | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 7.95 million people | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 8.16 million people | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 8.39 million people | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 8.61 million people | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 8.83 million people | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 9.06 million people | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 9.29 million people | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 9.52 million people | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 9.75 million people | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 9.99 million people | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 10.22 million people | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 10.46 million people | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 10.70 million people | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 10.93 million people | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 11.16 million people | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 11.39 million people | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 11.62 million people | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 11.85 million people | +2.0% |
| 2026 | 12.08 million people | +1.9% |
| 2027 | 12.30 million people | +1.9% |
| 2028 | 12.52 million people | +1.8% |
| 2029 | 12.74 million people | +1.7% |
| 2030 | 12.95 million people | +1.7% |
| 2031 | 13.16 million people | +1.6% |
| 2032 | 13.37 million people | +1.5% |
| 2033 | 13.56 million people | +1.5% |
| 2034 | 13.75 million people | +1.4% |
| 2035 | 13.94 million people | +1.3% |
| 2036 | 14.11 million people | +1.3% |
| 2037 | 14.28 million people | +1.2% |
| 2038 | 14.44 million people | +1.1% |
| 2039 | 14.59 million people | +1.0% |
| 2040 | 14.73 million people | +1.0% |
| 2041 | 14.86 million people | +0.9% |
| 2042 | 14.98 million people | +0.8% |
| 2043 | 15.09 million people | +0.7% |
| 2044 | 15.19 million people | +0.7% |
| 2045 | 15.28 million people | +0.6% |
| 2046 | 15.37 million people | +0.5% |
| 2047 | 15.44 million people | +0.5% |
| 2048 | 15.50 million people | +0.4% |
| 2049 | 15.55 million people | +0.3% |
| 2050 | 15.59 million people | +0.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 15.59 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.39 million people, 2.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 15.59 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.62 million people, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +80.9% | 1.14 million people | 2.05 million people |
| 1940 | +27.7% | 889,189 people | 1.14 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 151,499 people | 151,499 people | 151,499 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 181,797 people | 181,797 people | 181,797 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 212,090 people | 212,090 people | 212,090 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 242,365 people | 242,365 people | 242,365 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 272,582 people | 272,582 people | 272,582 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 302,608 people | 302,608 people | 302,608 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 327,478 people | 327,478 people | 327,478 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 350,380 people | 350,380 people | 350,380 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 335,854 people | 335,854 people | 335,854 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 341,838 people | 341,838 people | 341,838 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 348,175 people | 348,175 people | 348,175 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 354,904 people | 354,904 people | 354,904 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 362,070 people | 362,070 people | 362,070 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 369,725 people | 369,725 people | 369,725 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 377,932 people | 377,932 people | 377,932 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 386,767 people | 386,767 people | 386,767 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 396,321 people | 396,321 people | 396,321 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 406,705 people | 406,705 people | 406,705 people | 1 |
| 1810s | 418,059 people | 418,059 people | 418,059 people | 1 |
| 1820s | 430,556 people | 430,556 people | 430,556 people | 1 |
| 1830s | 444,422 people | 444,422 people | 444,422 people | 1 |
| 1840s | 459,948 people | 459,948 people | 459,948 people | 1 |
| 1850s | 477,523 people | 477,523 people | 477,523 people | 1 |
| 1860s | 497,681 people | 497,681 people | 497,681 people | 1 |
| 1870s | 521,173 people | 521,173 people | 521,173 people | 1 |
| 1880s | 549,100 people | 549,100 people | 549,100 people | 1 |
| 1890s | 583,155 people | 583,155 people | 583,155 people | 1 |
| 1900s | 626,092 people | 626,092 people | 626,092 people | 1 |
| 1910s | 682,784 people | 682,784 people | 682,784 people | 1 |
| 1920s | 762,879 people | 762,879 people | 762,879 people | 1 |
| 1930s | 889,189 people | 889,189 people | 889,189 people | 1 |
| 1940s | 1.14 million people | 1.14 million people | 1.14 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 2.31 million people | 2.05 million people | 2.56 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.81 million people | 2.61 million people | 2.96 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.16 million people | 3.00 million people | 3.40 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.03 million people | 3.49 million people | 4.60 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.39 million people | 4.72 million people | 6.22 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.27 million people | 6.42 million people | 8.16 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.41 million people | 8.39 million people | 10.46 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.73 million people | 10.70 million people | 12.74 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 13.81 million people | 12.95 million people | 14.59 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 15.20 million people | 14.73 million people | 15.55 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 15.59 million people | 15.59 million people | 15.59 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More population data for Zambia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5112 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5254 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.60 million people (2100)
- Population density 86.73 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2967 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.52 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Zambia?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Zambia was 15.59 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 15.59 million people in 2050.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 151,499 people in 1000.
- How does Zambia rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- Zambia ranks 34th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.