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Zambia

Population

22,721,597

Estimated as of Oct 28, 2026View source
Population rank
63rd
Share of world
0.27%
Annual change
+608,0412.77%

Population of Zambia

050M100M150M202622.7M2050 projection38.1M↑ 68% from 202619601980200020202040206020802100

Source: United Nations — World Population Prospects (2024 Revision)

95% prediction interval

Current population estimate: 22,721,597. 2050 projection: 38,083,386.Use the arrow keys on the chart to inspect individual years.

Historical population estimates for Zambia. Annual change is shown as a percentage.
202622,521,9152.77%63
202521,913,8742.81%63
202019,059,3952.95%66
201918,513,8393.01%66
201817,973,5693.05%66
201717,441,3203.12%66
201516,399,0893.17%67
201013,965,5943.52%70
200511,718,8193.36%71
200010,017,6312.85%77

Showing 10 of 19 years.

Population by City

Lusaka is home to 2,393,400 people, 10.63% of Zambia's population.

City population2M1M400K
Lusaka 2.4MKitwe 732.1KNdola 700.4KSolwezi 368.1KKabwe 324.9KChingola 286.0KLuanshya 220.6KChipata 220.5KKasama 217.0KMansa 208.8K
Largest cities by 2026 population and share of the national population.
1Lusaka2.4M10.63%
2Kitwe732.1K3.25%
3Ndola700.4K3.11%
4Solwezi368.1K1.63%
5Kabwe324.9K1.44%
6Chingola286.0K1.27%
7Luanshya220.6K0.98%
8Chipata220.5K0.98%
9Kasama217.0K0.96%
10Mansa208.8K0.93%

Zambia by the Numbers

Estimated as of Oct 28, 2026

Population
Zambia is home to an estimated 22,721,597 people, the 63rd largest population in the world.
Daily change
Zambia has a net population change of approximately 1,678 people per day, driven by 1,974 births, 315 deaths, and net immigration of 19 people.
Share of world
Zambia makes up 0.27% of the world's population and 1.42% of Africa's.
Density
30.3 people per km² of land (78.5 per mi²), ranking 187th among countries and territories.
Urban living
45.92% of people live in urban areas.

Zambia Demographics

Age & longevity

MaleFemale100+ years, male: 7100+ years, female: 2695–99 years, male: 8895–99 years, female: 26490–94 years, male: 63890–94 years, female: 1,64885–89 years, male: 3,07385–89 years, female: 6,62580–84 years, male: 10,09880–84 years, female: 18,86175–79 years, male: 24,99475–79 years, female: 42,10470–74 years, male: 53,68970–74 years, female: 79,81365–69 years, male: 95,86465–69 years, female: 125,61860–64 years, male: 151,50360–64 years, female: 181,14555–59 years, male: 227,10355–59 years, female: 253,11650–54 years, male: 335,25050–54 years, female: 351,48845–49 years, male: 451,36845–49 years, female: 455,43840–44 years, male: 563,67240–44 years, female: 563,90035–39 years, male: 667,45235–39 years, female: 673,04130–34 years, male: 771,59230–34 years, female: 784,73525–29 years, male: 903,28625–29 years, female: 920,11920–24 years, male: 1,064,43320–24 years, female: 1,079,25415–19 years, male: 1,266,28015–19 years, female: 1,273,19410–14 years, male: 1,394,63410–14 years, female: 1,397,1625–9 years, male: 1,507,1215–9 years, female: 1,508,1170–4 years, male: 1,658,3410–4 years, female: 1,655,768100+95–9990–9485–8980–8475–7970–7465–6960–6455–5950–5445–4940–4435–3930–3425–2920–2415–1910–145–90–4500K500K1M1M1.5M1.5M

Hover or tap an age group to see exact counts. Use the up and down arrow keys to inspect age groups.

Median age

19.2 yrs

World: 31

Life expectancy

66.9 yrs

World: 73.8

Male

49.51%

Female

50.49%

Life expectancy 64.4Life expectancy 69.3

Ethnicity

21%

Bemba

  • Bemba21%
  • Other13.8%
  • Tonga13.6%
  • Chewa7.4%
  • Lozi5.7%
  • Nsenga5.3%
  • Tumbuka4.4%
  • Ngoni4%
  • Lala3.1%
  • Kaonde2.9%
  • Namwanga2.8%
  • Lunda (north Western)2.6%
  • Mambwe2.5%
  • Luvale2.2%
  • Lamba2.1%
  • Ushi1.9%
  • Lenje1.6%
  • Bisa1.6%
  • Mbunda1.2%
  • Unspecified0.4%
Data notes

Source estimate: 2010 est.

Religion

75.3%

Protestant, the largest religion

  • Protestant75.3%
  • Roman Catholic20.2%
  • Other2.7%
  • None1.8%
Data notes

Source estimate: 2010 est.

Protestant: includes Anglican 5.2%, Pentecostal 5.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 4.6%, New Apostolic Church 3.9%, Baptist 2.5%, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia 2.1%, Presbyterian 1.9%, Anglican 1.6%, Lutheran 1.2%, Apostolic Faith Mission 1%, Reformed Church 0.8%, Brethren 0.7%, Other Protestant 11.7%

Other: includes Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i

Related Pages

Sources

  1. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.
  2. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - Zambia United Nations Graphs/Profiles
  3. World Bank / UN World Urbanization Prospects - 2025: Urban population (% of total population), using national definitions.
  4. Central Statistical Office of Zambia