Urban and rural population in Zambia
Zambia: Urban and rural population was 10.06 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
10.06 million
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
67th
of 236 countries
All-time high
10.06 million
in 2025
All-time low
266,950
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Zambia, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Zambia is 10.06 million, 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, urban and rural population in Zambia peaked at 10.06 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 266,950, 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.
Urban and rural population in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 266,950 | — |
| 1951 | 278,289 | +4.2% |
| 1952 | 293,161 | +5.3% |
| 1953 | 311,647 | +6.3% |
| 1954 | 333,779 | +7.1% |
| 1955 | 359,572 | +7.7% |
| 1956 | 389,022 | +8.2% |
| 1957 | 422,123 | +8.5% |
| 1958 | 458,878 | +8.7% |
| 1959 | 499,257 | +8.8% |
| 1960 | 543,186 | +8.8% |
| 1961 | 590,582 | +8.7% |
| 1962 | 641,293 | +8.6% |
| 1963 | 695,837 | +8.5% |
| 1964 | 762,098 | +9.5% |
| 1965 | 844,071 | +10.8% |
| 1966 | 937,457 | +11.1% |
| 1967 | 1.04 million | +10.7% |
| 1968 | 1.14 million | +9.8% |
| 1969 | 1.23 million | +8.4% |
| 1970 | 1.32 million | +7.3% |
| 1971 | 1.42 million | +7.0% |
| 1972 | 1.52 million | +7.0% |
| 1973 | 1.62 million | +6.8% |
| 1974 | 1.73 million | +6.6% |
| 1975 | 1.83 million | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 1.94 million | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 2.05 million | +5.4% |
| 1978 | 2.15 million | +4.8% |
| 1979 | 2.24 million | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 2.31 million | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 2.39 million | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 2.46 million | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 2.54 million | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 2.62 million | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 2.69 million | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 2.77 million | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 2.85 million | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 2.92 million | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 2.99 million | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 3.06 million | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 3.13 million | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 3.20 million | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 3.26 million | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 3.32 million | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 3.37 million | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 3.42 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 3.45 million | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 3.48 million | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 3.52 million | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 3.59 million | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 3.71 million | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 3.84 million | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 4.00 million | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 4.17 million | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 4.37 million | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 4.59 million | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 4.83 million | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 5.07 million | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 5.33 million | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 5.58 million | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 5.83 million | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 6.08 million | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 6.34 million | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 6.61 million | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 6.88 million | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 7.16 million | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 7.45 million | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 7.75 million | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 8.05 million | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 8.36 million | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 8.67 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 8.99 million | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 9.33 million | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 9.69 million | +3.9% |
| 2025 | 10.06 million | +3.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 10.06 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 10.06 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 2.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 361,268 | 266,950 | 499,257 | 10 |
| 1960s | 842,592 | 543,186 | 1.23 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.78 million | 1.32 million | 2.24 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.66 million | 2.31 million | 2.99 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.32 million | 3.06 million | 3.52 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.35 million | 3.59 million | 5.33 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.77 million | 5.58 million | 8.05 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.18 million | 8.36 million | 10.06 million | 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)
- 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 urban and rural population in Zambia?
- Urban and rural population in Zambia was 10.06 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.06 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 266,950 in 1950.
- How does Zambia rank for urban and rural population?
- Zambia ranks 67th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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