Population growth in Zambia
Zambia: Population growth was 2.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Population growth in Zambia, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, population growth in Zambia stood at 2.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Zambia peaked at 3.6% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 1993.
That places Zambia 19th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Population growth in Zambia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.1% | — |
| 1962 | 3.1% | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 3.2% | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 3.2% | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 3.2% | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 3.2% | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 3.2% | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 3.2% | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 3.2% | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 2.9% | -8.1% |
| 1971 | 2.8% | -5.8% |
| 1972 | 2.8% | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 2.9% | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 3.0% | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 3.0% | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 3.0% | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 3.0% | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 3.0% | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 3.1% | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 3.2% | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 3.2% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 3.1% | -4.5% |
| 1985 | 3.0% | -2.5% |
| 1986 | 3.0% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 2.9% | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | -5.0% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | -3.8% |
| 1990 | 2.6% | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 2.5% | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 2.8% | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 3.0% | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 3.1% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 3.2% | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 3.3% | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 3.4% | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 3.5% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 3.5% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 3.2% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 3.1% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 2.8% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 2.8% | -1.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 2.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.7%, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 2.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.3% | 2.8% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 16 Tanzania 2.9% compare
- 17 Mozambique 2.8% compare
- 18 Mauritania 2.8% compare
- 20 Afghanistan 2.8% compare
- 21 Uganda 2.7% compare
- 22 Cameroon 2.6% compare
More climate change data for Zambia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 303.19 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,795 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,752 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 10.55 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 169.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,153 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,033 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 120.21 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.67 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Zambia?
- Population growth in Zambia was 2.8% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 2008.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 1993.
- How does Zambia rank for population growth?
- Zambia ranks 19th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.