Urban population growth in Zambia
Zambia: Urban population growth was 3.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Zambia, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population growth in Zambia stood at 3.7%.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Zambia peaked at 10.5% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1998.
Zambia ranks 26th of 217 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 population growth in Zambia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 8.4% | — |
| 1962 | 8.2% | -1.5% |
| 1963 | 8.2% | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 9.1% | +11.4% |
| 1965 | 10.2% | +12.3% |
| 1966 | 10.5% | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 10.1% | -3.4% |
| 1968 | 9.3% | -7.9% |
| 1969 | 8.1% | -13.6% |
| 1970 | 7.0% | -13.0% |
| 1971 | 6.8% | -3.3% |
| 1972 | 6.7% | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 6.6% | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 6.4% | -3.4% |
| 1975 | 6.1% | -4.5% |
| 1976 | 5.7% | -6.1% |
| 1977 | 5.2% | -8.1% |
| 1978 | 4.7% | -10.2% |
| 1979 | 4.1% | -12.9% |
| 1980 | 3.4% | -16.0% |
| 1981 | 3.1% | -11.2% |
| 1982 | 3.2% | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 3.1% | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 3.0% | -5.5% |
| 1985 | 2.9% | -3.5% |
| 1986 | 2.8% | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | -4.1% |
| 1988 | 2.6% | -6.0% |
| 1989 | 2.4% | -4.7% |
| 1990 | 2.3% | -3.7% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | -6.1% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 1.9% | -6.9% |
| 1994 | 1.8% | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 1.7% | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -21.6% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | -30.7% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | -8.5% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | +35.8% |
| 2000 | 2.0% | +69.7% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | +54.1% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | +17.7% |
| 2003 | 4.0% | +10.5% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | +8.7% |
| 2005 | 4.6% | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 5.0% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 5.0% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 4.9% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 4.6% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 4.4% | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 4.2% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 4.1% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 4.0% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 3.8% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 3.8% | +4.8% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.1% | 8.1% | 10.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | 5.9% | 4.1% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.9% | 2.4% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.6% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.1% | 2.0% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 23 Benin 3.9% compare
- 24 Madagascar 3.8% compare
- 25 Syrian Arab Republic 3.8% compare
- 27 Afghanistan 3.7% compare
- 28 Yemen 3.5% compare
- 29 Togo 3.5% compare
More climate change data for Zambia
- 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)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 4.29 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Zambia?
- Urban population growth in Zambia was 3.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 1966.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1998.
- How does Zambia rank for urban population growth?
- Zambia ranks 26th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.