Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Zambia
Zambia: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 10.06 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Zambia, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Zambia is 10.06 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 46.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Zambia peaked at 10.06 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 266,950 people, in 1950.
Zambia ranks 67th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 361,268 people | 266,950 people | 499,257 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 842,592 people | 543,186 people | 1.23 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.78 million people | 1.32 million people | 2.24 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.66 million people | 2.31 million people | 2.99 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.32 million people | 3.06 million people | 3.52 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.35 million people | 3.59 million people | 5.33 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.77 million people | 5.58 million people | 8.05 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.18 million people | 8.36 million people | 10.06 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More population data for Zambia
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.04 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.04 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 79,275 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.04 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 4.1 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 3.82 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Zambia?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Zambia was 10.06 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.06 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 266,950 people in 1950.
- How does Zambia rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Zambia ranks 67th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.