Urban population, annual growth rate in Zambia
Zambia: Urban population, annual growth rate was 3.82 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population, annual growth rate in Zambia, 1961–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 3.82 % change on previous year for urban population, annual growth rate in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population, annual growth rate in Zambia peaked at 11.06 % change on previous year in 1966 and was at its lowest, 0.864 % change on previous year, in 1998.
That places Zambia 26th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population, annual growth rate in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 8.73 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 8.59 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 1963 | 8.51 % change on previous year | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 9.52 % change on previous year | +12.0% |
| 1965 | 10.76 % change on previous year | +13.0% |
| 1966 | 11.06 % change on previous year | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 10.67 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 9.79 % change on previous year | -8.3% |
| 1969 | 8.4 % change on previous year | -14.2% |
| 1970 | 7.27 % change on previous year | -13.4% |
| 1971 | 7.02 % change on previous year | -3.4% |
| 1972 | 6.97 % change on previous year | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 6.82 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 6.58 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 1975 | 6.27 % change on previous year | -4.6% |
| 1976 | 5.88 % change on previous year | -6.3% |
| 1977 | 5.39 % change on previous year | -8.3% |
| 1978 | 4.83 % change on previous year | -10.4% |
| 1979 | 4.19 % change on previous year | -13.2% |
| 1980 | 3.51 % change on previous year | -16.3% |
| 1981 | 3.11 % change on previous year | -11.4% |
| 1982 | 3.22 % change on previous year | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 3.2 % change on previous year | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 3.02 % change on previous year | -5.6% |
| 1985 | 2.91 % change on previous year | -3.5% |
| 1986 | 2.87 % change on previous year | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 2.75 % change on previous year | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 2.58 % change on previous year | -6.0% |
| 1989 | 2.46 % change on previous year | -4.8% |
| 1990 | 2.37 % change on previous year | -3.7% |
| 1991 | 2.22 % change on previous year | -6.2% |
| 1992 | 2.04 % change on previous year | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 1.89 % change on previous year | -7.0% |
| 1994 | 1.8 % change on previous year | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 1.75 % change on previous year | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 1.37 % change on previous year | -21.7% |
| 1997 | 0.9447 % change on previous year | -30.9% |
| 1998 | 0.864 % change on previous year | -8.5% |
| 1999 | 1.17 % change on previous year | +35.9% |
| 2000 | 2 % change on previous year | +70.4% |
| 2001 | 3.1 % change on previous year | +55.0% |
| 2002 | 3.66 % change on previous year | +18.0% |
| 2003 | 4.05 % change on previous year | +10.8% |
| 2004 | 4.41 % change on previous year | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 4.74 % change on previous year | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 5.01 % change on previous year | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 5.14 % change on previous year | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 5.14 % change on previous year | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 5.01 % change on previous year | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 4.74 % change on previous year | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 4.45 % change on previous year | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 4.32 % change on previous year | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 4.26 % change on previous year | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 4.21 % change on previous year | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 4.14 % change on previous year | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 4.1 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 4.05 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 3.97 % change on previous year | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 3.91 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 3.83 % change on previous year | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 3.73 % change on previous year | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 3.65 % change on previous year | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 3.82 % change on previous year | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 3.86 % change on previous year | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 3.82 % change on previous year | -1.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban population, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +70.4% | 1.17 % change on previous year | 2 % change on previous year |
| 2001 | +55.0% | 2 % change on previous year | 3.1 % change on previous year |
| 1999 | +35.9% | 0.864 % change on previous year | 1.17 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.56 % change on previous year | 8.4 % change on previous year | 11.06 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 6.12 % change on previous year | 4.19 % change on previous year | 7.27 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.96 % change on previous year | 2.46 % change on previous year | 3.51 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.64 % change on previous year | 0.864 % change on previous year | 2.37 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.23 % change on previous year | 2 % change on previous year | 5.14 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.22 % change on previous year | 3.91 % change on previous year | 4.74 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.79 % change on previous year | 3.65 % change on previous year | 3.86 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 23 Benin 4.02 % change on previous year compare
- 24 Madagascar 3.9 % change on previous year compare
- 25 Syrian Arab Republic 3.85 % change on previous year compare
- 27 Afghanistan 3.76 % change on previous year compare
- 28 Yemen 3.57 % change on previous year compare
- 29 Togo 3.55 % change on previous year 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 urban population, annual growth rate in Zambia?
- Urban population, annual growth rate in Zambia was 3.82 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban population, annual growth rate recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.06 % change on previous year in 1966.
- What is the lowest urban population, annual growth rate recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.864 % change on previous year in 1998.
- How does Zambia rank for urban population, annual growth rate?
- Zambia ranks 26th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population, annual growth rate rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Urban population, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Urban population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Urban population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Urban population. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.